A Taste of Dreams

(, New edition)

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Description

Both a coming-of-age adventure of time spent in search of the romantic Russia the author had dreamed about, and a tale of eye-opening amazement as she discovers and gets caught up in the new, anarchic Russia emerging from its Soviet constraints. At its heart is the story of caviar: beluga, the rarest type of sturgeon harvested from the Caspian Sea, is now an endangered species, and no one knows how - or wants - to stop the plunder. People kill for it. Beautifully written, drawing on personal experience and intent observation, Vanora Bennett's critical and literary powers deliver a stunning read.

Reviews

'[A] darkly seductive tour through new Russia... As a political and social commentator Bennett is shrewd and humane, but she is equally accurate, heartfelt and knowing describing the tastes of caviar - full of promise and mystery; the taste of dreams' [Book of the Week] - The Times (Play)

Vanora Bennett has written an original and hypnotically readable book to celebrate her obsession with Russia and caviar - The Sunday Times

The writing is both fresh and acutely observant... Enormously engaging... this is a charming read, a highly personal take on a disturbing subject - Spectator

Bennett has a marvellous feel for language... the book is propelled by the sheer vigour - and often virtuosity - of the writing - Financial Times

Author Bio

Vanora Bennett writes for The Times of London, and has been a Moscow correspondent for Reuters and the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of Crying Wolf, The Return of War to Chechnya (Picador 1998).