Turn on television news or the radio, pick up a newspaper, or even hit your favourite social media sites and you won’t be able to miss news about the war, or “special operation”, between two old Soviet Bloc countries, Russia and Ukraine. While in this review we are not heading off to either of those countries, in João Cerqueira’s Perestroika, we are taken back to the fictional Soviet Bloc country of Slavia, which is situated between Poland, the German Democratic, the Federal Republic of Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria. A small country of 40,000 square kilometres (about the size of Switzerland).
Perestroika by João Cerqueira is an historical fiction novel that takes a compelling look at the complexities of the late Communist era and Perestroika. It is a story of power, corruption, murder, revenge and revolt. Perestroika, or restructuring in English, was a series of political and economic reforms introduced by President Mikhail Gorbachev.
The story is based in the country of Slavia, a fictional representation of the Soviet Bloc. It has 4 million citizens all controlled by an authoritarian regime headed by President Alfred Ionescu under a Marxist system. Its citizens struggle to survive under the oppressive regime with food rationed and people sent to re-education camps if they don’t tow the party line or criticise the government in any way. Everything is great in Slavia, no matter what the actual truth is. But while the people are struggling, the elite ruling classes are living life in luxury, corruption is rife and they seem to be above the law. And then comes Perestroika that changes the political landscape and gives people freedom, or so it seems.
Overall, Perestroika is an excellent novel. Set against the background of Communism, dictatorship and real struggle, it is a fantastic absorbing story. It is told in two parts; before Perestroika where the government controls everything (including how you think and behave) with harsh punishments and propaganda, and after Perestroika where democracy and freedom come in, which brings a whole new set of rules, challenges and just as much corruption. While it is a work of fiction, it is based around historical facts with wonderfully rich characters, making it a substantial read with a lot of depth.
The story isn’t based around a central character, there is a whole host of characters from politicians to struggling artists, secret police to gangsters, and dissidents to art collectors, each one contributing in their own way to create a full and rich story with plenty of depth, combining to create a very detailed and vivid story. Despite a large list of characters, the story is easy to follow without losing track of who is doing what and when and it doesn’t fall into the trap of having too much going on.
The story is excellent as it takes a look at how a Communist society works and how changing to a democratic society affects the population. It shows the struggles, resistance to change and those that embrace it, as well as the problems each system has. It is fascinating how change can affect a country while still controlling the people just in different ways and the pros and cons a change in system can cause and how people can be easily manipulated. It masterfully blends politics with the personal struggles of its characters that were just as relevant back then as there are today.
João Cerqueira has masterfully woven a tale of revenge, redemption, and revolution, set against the backdrop of a society in turmoil and fighting for change. The protagonist, Ivan Fiorov, a former crime boss, emerges as a leader of the ‘Freedom Party,’ bringing with him a wave of change that mirrors the countries authoritarian past, dressed up in a democrat fashion. It is also very relevant today with what is currently happening in that region, with a reflection on contemporary issues such as Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the rise of populist and neo-Nazi movements, making it a poignant read for those interested in historical and current geopolitical dynamics.
This is a fast-paced and absorbing read, set in a country where corruption in politics rule, citizens can end up in brutal prisons for just having a different opinion, violence and murder are a way of life and how change brings about its own problems with gangsters, drugs and revenge.
While Perestroika is an excellent work of fiction in a fictional country, it perfectly blends pieces of history and the exploration of the human condition to create a well-rounded story. Some of the characters are even inspired by other characters from history:
- The painter Ludwig Kirchner, Lia Kirchner’s father, was inspired by the German expressionist painter of the same name, whose works Hitler considered Degenerate Art.
- The People’s Commissar for Culture, Zut Zdanov, was inspired by the Stalinist leader Andrei Zhdanov, responsible for culture in the USSR, who defended socialist realism in art and banned modernism.
- President Alfred Ionescu was inspired by the playwright Eugène Ionesco, creator of the theatre of the absurd – which brings us back to the absurdity of communist regimes.
The large cast of characters are richly developed, each with their own backstories that peel back like an onion to reveal layers as and depth, making some characters more likable and others more deplorable the further you get into the story.
And you don’t need to have an interest in history or politics to enjoy this story as it has so more going on and is more complex with themes of corruption, abuse, theft, violence, murder, terrorism and crime mixed with guilt, change and revenge. A fantastic read that could be a very real story, and not just from looking back in history to past events but looking at what is happening in Europe at the moment with the war in Ukraine and the rise of neo-Nazi movements across the world.
A fantastic thrilling read that you won’t be able to put down. An excellent plot with fantastic characters. It explores the themes of struggle and power through the eyes of some very different characters, making a highly thought-provoking, entertaining and extremely enjoyable read. And it might leave you questioning “What is truth” and “Are we really free?”
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (Paperback) / £2.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit joaocerqueira.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
