Point of View

This novel is written with an omniscient point of view. There is an unseen narrator who does not participate in the novel but allows the reader to see action of all the characters and dialogue between any of them. This view also allows the reader to know the thoughts of many of the characters. The novel weaves a large number of prominent characters together in thoughts, conversations and observations to form the story.

The main character is Oleg Kostoglotov, and it is his mind the reader learns best. Each chapter includes the point of view from a number of characters.

By using the omniscient point of view, the author gives the reader a point of trust, and the ability to see everything that is happening to everyone, rather than just one person and their observations.

Setting

The story takes place in the USSR in the mid-...