My Name is Asya by Kira Michailovskaya

A 1960s Soviet Coming-of-Age Novel of Leningrad Interpreters, Intourist Tourism, and Independence

In mid-1960s Leningrad, young orphan Asya works as an Intourist tour guide, translating Russian culture and historical monuments for visiting foreign tourists. Living in a modest attic room within a bustling communal apartment, she navigates the daily realities and bureaucratic expectations of Soviet society.

When Asya enters a romantic relationship with Yuri, an architecture student committed to strict Soviet ideology, philosophical friction emerges over individual expression versus party conformity. Guiding visitors through Leningrad's palaces and streets, Asya asserts her own intellectual independence and personal identity.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Kira Michailovskaya delivers a rare, intimate coming-of-age portrait of young women in 1960s Soviet Russia. Essential reading for fans of Boris Pasternak, Ludmila Ulitskaya, and Soviet historical fiction.