The Banner of the Passing Clouds

by Anthea Nicholson

The extraordinary narrator of The Banner of the Passing Clouds is born on the day Stalin dies and is given his name - Iosif Dzhugashvili - by a hospital official. He becomes convinced that Stalin, freed from the constraints of an old and finished body, has found a new dwelling place within his chest, behind his a burden he both welcomes and fears. In Iosif, Anthea Nicholson has created a unique and intriguing a victim of the Soviet Georgian regime which infiltrates his inner life, who is also complicit in its ideology and practices. Only when Iosif unwittingly destroys his family's happiness is he forced to question his convictions and begin on the path to redemption.

Genres: Fiction, Russia

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2013

Reviews

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We often describe novels by reference to others that seem similar, but Anthea Nicholson’s The Banner of the Passing Clouds is unlike any contemporary novel that’s recently graced my bookshelves. It’s the story of a man growing up in Soviet-era Georgia who is possessed by Stalin in the most literal way. If you think the notion of a man with a moustachioed squatter tapping on his ribs, churning his bowels and stealing his voice might be funny, think again. This is a serious novel about a bleak time in Georgian history.
Nevertheless, although Iosif, the narrator, gives it to us straight, it isn’t a bleak novel. Despite the demands of his inner Stalin, Iosif wants what we all want: a career; a comfortable life for those we care about; love. There’s a poignancy in Iosif’s character: born in the shadow of the death of his sister and never his parents’ favoured child; in his quest to collect and catalogue his country’s folksongs, while his own singing voice is suppressed. The worst atrocities occur offstage while, in their own different ways, the family and their neighbours strive to maintain their humanity within an oppressive regime.
Living in Tbilisi, I’m assuming Anthea Nicholson is well acquainted with the history of the region. With my scant knowledge, I may have missed some of the nuances in the symbolism of Iosif’s predicament, but I don’t think that detracted from my satisfaction with the novel. However, I may understand more when Anthea completes my website Q&A:
http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/author-...

[Harita Rout · Rating 5 out of 5]

You gradually sympathize with the protagonist and the author has beautifully captured emotion in this story. There area handful of interesting characters who make the book even better. The book has a unique theme and the fact that you then feel the conflict in the Iosif's heart is the best part. Nicely narrated. Gives you a clear picture of Iosif's side of the story and shows how often people make mistakes which were not at all intended.
The book starts before the birth of the protagonist and then takes you quite on a journey through the story

[D'face · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this while travelling in Georgia so it was interesting to be in Tbilisi and to be reading a story set there at the same time. The first half of the book is hard going, written in a dry documentary style with almost nothing happening. Happily the second half changes both style and tempo reflecting the revolutionary struggle and life thereafter. I am not sure if the main character is mentally handicapped, incredibly naive, or wilfully blind.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't the easiest book to read. Not sure if it was because of the author or the translator. There were some pretty strange stylistic and linguistic choices in this novel. Over all it was quite enjoyable and it was challenging in a good way.
Definitely helped me better understand the life style of someone that had to live under the rule of Communist Soviet Union.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this novel, it was very interesting at first but dragged on and on.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the day that Josef Stalin dies a baby is born in a Georgian hospital, his surname is common Dzhugashvili but an official names him Iosif thus he grows up with the name of the dictator but also a belief that Stalin lives within his body.
He grows up living in a high rise flat in Tbilisi. We learn in the first chapter that as he is born his sister dies of polio and we then follow his life and family through to the late 1980's after the fall of communism and independence for Georgia. Through the story we meet his parents and their struggles, his brother Poliko a vibrant and charismatic man (the opposite of Iosif) who goes to fight in Afghanistan and returns broken. The enigmatic Maia whom Iosef falls for and many more characters that I felt were excellently portrayed and leapt of the page.
The plot involved Iosef moving from one situation to another, as he becomes a music ethnographer archiving folk songs of Georgia, with the help of Maia rescues his brother from an asylum, starts a steamy affair with a scientist researching bacteria, sees Maia and Paliko forge a music career and much more. Through his job he accidentally reveals something that triggers the destruction of his family and an event that mirrors a real incident and the events that subsequently unfold make for a fascinating story and picture of Georgia during the period as society breaks down when Communism disintegrates and the internal Stalin , so long Iosef's master loses control.
A very interesting book , which both had me turning the pages whilst fascinated by the style and the history.

[Sam Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting blend of historical fiction and magical realism. Great use of real history to inform plot and create some great irony. Heartbreaking, clearly well researched, and quite intriguing. I look forward to seeing what she does next.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book.