The Prodigal of Leningrad: A Novel

by Daniel Taylor

"Taylor's elegantly simple prose is compelling, and his attention to detail is the work of an expert storyteller. An unforgettable book that will resonate with readers of World War Il historical fiction." – Library Journal starred review

"A man's reverence for art leads to wartime defiance in the enchanting historical novel The Prodigal of Leningrad. Told with fabulistic clarity…a moving exploration of what it costs to uphold Christian virtues, including truth and beauty." Foreword Reviews

In this World War II historical novel set during the harrowing siege of Leningrad, Daniil Aslanov, a docent at the Hermitage Museum, gives tours of empty frames. As the city starves, he battles a secret shame, while his grandfather—a persecuted Orthodox priest exiled to the Gulag—clings to faith.

While bombs fall and starvation grips the city, Daniil Aslanov continues to lead tours of empty frames through the Hermitage Museum. Although the museum's masterpieces have been hidden away for safekeeping, their presence lingers in memory and meaning.

Daniil's grandfather, an Orthodox priest exiled for decades to the brutal Gulag, embraces suffering as his sacred calling, thanking God for being allowed to minister to those around him. As Leningrad's people perish, Daniil finds himself drawn to the story behind Rembrandt's painting, "The Return of the Prodigal Son."

Beautifully told and based on real historical events, including the extraordinary wartime tours of the Hermitage's empty galleries, The Prodigal of Leningrad is a stirring and unforgettable story of human resilience, and a profound meditation on art, faith, forgiveness and healing. 

Readers of The Nightingale,A Gentleman in Moscow, and City of Thieves, and all those interested in World War II history will welcome this important contribution to the genre. 

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Daniel Taylor (Ph.D., Emory University) is the author of eighteen books, including The Myth of Certainty, Letters to My Children, Tell Me A Story: The Life-Shaping Power of Our Stories, Creating a Spiritual Legacy, The Skeptical Believer: Telling Stories to Your Inner Atheist, Believing Again: Stories of Leaving and Returning to Faith, and a four novel mystery series, beginning with Death Comes for the Decontructionist and ending with The Mystery of Iniquity. His most recent novel, The Prodigal of Leningrad, is set in that city during the Nazi siege of World War II. He has also worked on a number of Bible translations. He speaks frequently at conferences, colleges, retreats, and churches on a variety of topics. Dr. Taylor is also co-founder of The Legacy Center, an organization devoted to helping individuals and organizations identify and preserve the values and stories that have shaped their lives. He was a contributing editor for Books and Culture. Dr. Taylor is married and the father of four adult children. Website: www.WordTaylor.com

Reviews

[Michael Doane]

The Prodigal of Leningrad is a quietly powerful historical novel that finds beauty, meaning, and moral courage amid one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century. Daniel Taylor’s prose is restrained and luminous, capturing the haunting reality of the Siege of Leningrad while centering the story on the enduring power of art and faith. The image of museum tours conducted before empty frames becomes a profound symbol of memory, defiance, and hope.

What elevates the novel is its spiritual and emotional depth. Through Daniil Aslanov’s inner conflict and his grandfather’s unyielding devotion, Taylor explores forgiveness, suffering, and the cost of living by truth and beauty in a world intent on destroying both. The parallel between Daniil’s journey and Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son is handled with subtlety and grace, enriching the narrative without overwhelming it. The result is a moving meditation on resilience and redemption.