This novel, named by many critics a coda to the internationally acclaimed Laurus, develops Vodolazkin’s approach to history and time. In his new novel the author chronicles the history of a fictional island, from the medieval to modern time.

Unlike in Laurus, Vodolazkin does not experiment with language but rather with an intonation — the novel is written as a medieval Christian chronicle.

The author in the novel does not concentrate on the Russian history nor does he exclude the Russian history from the European history: the island here is a fictional island, a small piece of land becoming a platform for events reminiscent of the Western European history through centuries. Chroniclers dutifully narrate about events they witness, that — like at all times in the history of the world — include national conflicts, quests for power involving betrayals, cunning schemes and complex riddles of blood relations; pandemics, bad harvests and an eventual months of starvation, invasions, revolutions, times of flourish, stagnation and decay. Objective and unbiased at most, medieval monks at times give way to their personal response to the events, in alternative chronicles, to be discovered centuries later in secret hide-outs. The complete array of these chronicles receives a commentary today, from a family couple and the island’s former rulers. Their Highnesses Prince Parthenay and Princess Ksenia have been invited to provide an expert opinion on a script of a feature historical drama, produced by a celebrated French film director. This elderly couple is truly extraordinary: born in the Medieval Times, having spent their long lives on the island, they turn 347 today — a life-span typical for Biblical heroes but not for common people. Living eyewitnesses of the island’s turbulent history, they offer clever, sharp-eyed but non-judging observations of the changing flow of time and of people, persistent in their delusions.

What has been keeping the royal couple alive for centuries? Is there a chance that an old prophecy comes true, and two righteous persons shall save the island at the face of an imminent catastrophe?

Vodolazkin is at his best speaking about world’s history, turbulent and often hard, even gleam,

times in a light-hearted, humorous way, resembling Julian Barnes’ attitude.