After Russian Studies at Princeton and a training as a lawyer, Daniel M. Jaffe decided to dedicate full time to his writing passion. Russian Silhouette, his ´memoir of activism and identity´, that I had access to in audiobook format, read by the author, is a testimony of his talent.
It was a right decision to leave the dry world of law and dedicate to storytelling, especially when one has a story to tell. His is intertwined with a significant stage of the world history, especially Jewish history: the increased pressure of the then Soviet authorities against dissident and the stubborn efforts to block any attempts of Russian Jews from leaving the country.
As a student, a bit naive, keen to improve his Russian skills, Jaffe who is himself Jewish, got to know the everyday life of the Soviet citizens, their deprivations and the enormous risks human rights activists undertook, involving the lives of other family members and friends. Jaffe, and we all, may learn about human dignity and values from those courageous dissidents. In his particular case, it also meant leading him to a more open acknowledgment of his own identity and ultimate coming out both to his family, friends and Soviet acquaintances.
The story is told with so much humour, despite the clear restrictive circumstances, and relating the reader so directly, that I may be missing the characters at the end of the book. They felt so closed and their fate so tragic, reminding me always about the respect I have towards Russian Jews who often paid a high price for just not forgetting who they are.
Russian Silhouette is an important testimony adding up to the bibliography about refuseniks nevertheless a story of resilience and accepting authenticity.
Rating: 5 stars
Disclaimer: Audiobook offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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