This poignant look at the fate of millions of Russians under Stalin sent shockwaves through Russia and the rest of the world upon its first publication. Discover the crucial role of a crust of bread or an extra bowl of soup, the unparalleled luxury of a book, and the creative potential of everyday objects like a nail, rope, or match in a world where survival is paramount. Safety, warmth, and food are the basic necessities. Reading this book, you enter a world of confinement, cruelty, hard labor, and icy cold, and become a participant in men's struggle for survival against the hardships of nature and the inhumane conditions that define their lives.