The Red Cabbage Cafe

by Jonathan Treitel

New Yorker Humphrey Veil, whose revolutionary zeal involves him in the bohemian scene of 1920s Moscow and in helping build the Soviet state, witnesses the Revolution firsthand, sees Stalin's rise, and falls in love

185 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[Patrick Tarbox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most 3.5 star book ever, but I had to go one way or the other. I went 4 because it gave me enough laughs throughout. The ending was a mixed bag, it was stumbling along, had a nice turn but did not really stick the landing in my mind. Fun, quick read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is satirical and absurdist in the best way. The narrator is completely unreliable. The characters are changeable. The plot is truly bizarre. I rather loved it!

[Katie Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moscow, 1920s, macabre comedy, the red cabbage cafe, transport engineers, displaced New Yorker. What could go wrong?

Very funny.

“My hand was twitching in my trouser pocket, fiddling with the edition of the Communist Manifesto I always keep there. I took it out and flicked through the booklet, hoping by some kind of bibliomancy to chance on a useful line of advice. The Manifesto opened on the blank flyleaf.
Inspiration! I tore out the page, rolled it into a cone, stuck the sharp end in Efim's ear and called through it, "Where's the mongoose from?!' Efim grinned. "That's lovely, that is. Every word, I heard. Every tiny word. Mine's a vodka, thanks very much.’”