First published 2017
Gerasim cannot hear or speak, but his hands work with quiet strength in his mistress's household. This serf's world changes when he finds a small dog drowning and pulls her from the water. He names her Mumu and she becomes his constant companion, following him through his daily labors and sleeping by his side. The dog transforms Gerasim's existence, giving him something to protect and love in a life marked by servitude. But Gerasim serves a capricious mistress who controls every aspect of his world. When she decides the dog disturbs her peace, she demands Mumu's removal. Gerasim faces an impossible choice between obedience to his owner and loyalty to the creature that has brought meaning to his silent world. This conflict forces him to act in ways that will define both his character and his future, revealing the human cost of a system that treats people as property.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: impossible-choice, loyalty, obedience
Period: 19th-Century
32 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform