Praise for the Russian edition:

 

Russians are accustomed to the zigzags of fate, but even by Russian standards Chemiakin has had more than his share. Maintenance worker at the Hermitage, prisoner in a psychiatric hospital, lay brother at the legendary Pskov monastery, exile, American citizen – Mihail Chemiakin is all of these, as well as being Russia’s leading artist.  Now he is also one of Russia’s best writers. This un-put-downable book proves once again that truth is more wondrous than fiction.

• Evgeny Vodolazkin, author of Laurus

 

This book is not so much an autobiography as a portrait of the inner life of a brilliant artist, providing direct access to his studio and a key to his philosophy.

• Anna Matveyeva, Literaturnaya Gazeta

 

The thrill of reading Chemiakin’s My Life: Before Exile can only compare to the books of my childhood - Mayne Reid, Conan Doyle and Jules Verne, in the exhilarating spirit of adventure. I wanted to swallow it whole, not piece by piece, not chewing – and die of happiness.

It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced such engrossing reading, with a trip to another world, another time, another year.

• Lev Abalin, proza.ru