I found this book in a hostel in Beijing, started reading it, and became so enthralled that when I left I had to take it with me. I later gave it away to a French guy I met in Ulan-Ude. Written by a Soviet expat who settled in France, it is a multi-generational story spanning the entire life of the USSR - the Russian civil war, two world wars, Stalinism, The Cold War and the country's eventual break-up. The main character and narrator is a Soviet spy who, with his partner, travels between Western Europe and Africa managing the various proxy wars being fought between the USSR and the US. His story, along with those of his father and grandfather, lay bare the many tragedies that arise from war and politics. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in US or Soviet history or just beautiful writing in French.