Marek

‘Marek’ is a fascinating, fast-moving novel describing sensitively a young man’s experience of war and peace in a gripping account set against the tragic events of World War I in Russia. That country was ruled by the Tsar. Russian rulers, then and until today have ruled as autocrats, causing enormous misery and loss of life. On the outbreak of WWI many Czechs and Slovaks living in Russia, although citizens of the Habsburg Empire had little loyalty to the Emperor. In fact, many were openly hostile and formed a semi-autonomous Legion within the Russian Army. After the Russian revolution they tried unsuccessfully to remain neutral in the civil war in which the Red Army defeated the aristocrats. They wished to return home but the only way was to cross Siberia by train and by ship to Europe. Their now largely forgotten story is told through the eyes of Marek, a young recruit.