Burden (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781959131014)

Burden Novel

Classical author Lidia Charskaya tells 19th century tale of courageous Vasya and kind-hearted Father Paisus and how they try to build a new family. On a cold, wintry night Vasya's mother dies leaving him all alone. Father Paisius takes Vasya in, adding to his household that is already near poverty. Vasya is not exactly welcomed, but he tries to do the best he can; working harder than the rest to fit in and earn his place with his new brothers and sisters.

Vasya is faced with life-changing challenges that test his determination and strength each day. Will Vasya's fortitude be enough for his new family to finally accept him as their brother?

Charskaya was educated at the Pavlovsk Institute for Noble Girls and later became an actress at the Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Her writing career began when she started publishing stories about life in girls' boarding schools, drawing from her own experiences. Her first major success came with the novel "Princess Djavakha" (1903).

Her books typically featured young heroines facing various trials and tribulations, often orphans or students at boarding schools. Some of her most famous works include "The Life of Institute Girls" and "Siberochka" Her writing style was emotional and melodramatic, which particularly appealed to young readers but drew criticism from some literary critics.

After the 1917 Revolution, Charskaya's works were banned by the Soviet authorities. They considered her books too bourgeois and deemed them harmful to Soviet youth due to their focus on privileged classes and pre-revolutionary values. She was essentially forced to stop writing and lived in poverty during her final years.

While banned for decades in the Soviet Union, her books experienced a revival in Russia during the 1990s when they were republished and once again found an audience.

Burden novel has been translated and updated so that children today can enjoy this inspirational writing of Charskaya. This story is a timeless tale of family and acceptance to share with children of all ages.