Maksim Haretski’s thought-provoking exploration of the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution and the surge of Belarusian nationalism of 1918, now translated for English readers, illuminates currents of lesser-known history for those in the West.

Haretski lived from 1893 until 1938, when he was executed by the Soviet secret police. He studies his characteristic themes of nationalist identity and human nature through the eyes of Warrant Officer Ignat Abdziralovich, discharged from the Russian Army due to illness. When a young nationalist challenges him, “What are you doing to revive our unfortunate homeland?” Abdziralovich feels himself split into two souls, unable to decide on his loyalties.

He observes the labor of his foster brother, Vasil; is attracted to the young, rich Alya, who passes him over for a prince; and later assists schoolteacher Ira in freeing a Belarusian teacher and student imprisoned by a Bolshevik “extraordinary commission.” But even as he witnesses the violent clash of ideals between Karpavich, an outspoken socialist, and Captain Hareszka, who serves the old empire, Abdziralovich—who identifies as “a passive observer and quiet thinker”—cannot commit to a side.

The book expends little emphasis on dramatic action, and a melodramatic twist about Abdziralovich’s parentage has little impact on the plot. Instead, the book is a platform for the philosophical crises that pit elder against youth, peasant against bourgeoisie, conviction against survival. Haretski is strongest in detailing shifting human moods and feelings, evoking natural imagery that provides a poignant metaphor. The prevailing mood is somber, though the reflectiveness is interlaced with small moments of absurdity, wistfulness, and poetry.

Olya Ianovskaia’s translation is fluid and precise, balancing the style and imagery of Haretski’s introspective prose while making native expressions and cultural details accessible to foreign readers. In all, Two Souls, the first existential Belarusian novel, earns its status as a classic of Belarusian literature.

Highly recommended for fans of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus.

Also available as an ebook.