The Story of a Good Man

Denny comes out of the war with a promise to keep: he will find Lilith, the girl he once expected to marry. His parents are gone, the family home is a ruin, and survival has left gaps in his memory that he cannot explain. A stranger offers him shelter. Work, cooking and friendship begin to give shape to his days, and a young woman named Prosha helps him imagine a future.

Then the man who took him in is arrested. Denny goes looking for a way to help and finds himself making a bargain that threatens the person closest to him. Meanwhile, the search for Lilith leads him toward a truth his memories have concealed.

Set in wartime and post-war Europe, The Story of a Good Man follows a young man trying to remain generous while learning what he can and cannot do for the people he loves. It is a novel of grief, loyalty, desire and the stubborn work of rebuilding a life.

Alexander Sukhoviev is an author from Russia. This complete English reading edition is offered free of charge. Honest personal feedback is welcome at almakaliningrad4@gmail.com; following the author on Instagram @alexander_kld39 is optional.

Content notice (18+): War violence, sexual violence, explicit sexual content and strong language.