Before sunrise

Number of pages: 473. Author: Mikhail Zushchenko. Publishing house: Yustron Publishing and Distribution. Year of publication: 2023. Before sunrise, a book of a special kind that combines novel, autobiography, short stories, and psychological studies, a rare type of books worth paying attention to. In this book, Zushchenko investigates the causes of his terrible depression that controlled him for many years. Zushchenko presents in his book short, diamond-like scenes similar to Chekhov's writings in terms of focus and density of meaning in the fewest lines, discusses Freud's and Pavlov's theories, and talks about well-known artistic figures like Gogol, Pushkin, Edgar Allan Poe, and others. He continues his search with all his strength until he reaches the root of the problem. It is a strenuous search for happiness that would free its owner from misery, fears, and slavery. Mikhail Mikhailovich Zushchenko, a Russian writer born in 1894, his short stories were classified as satirical, and some were banned in Russia due to their satire of the widespread corruption and poverty among people in society at that time. He was deprived of his pension after reaching retirement age. His health quickly deteriorated, and he spent his last years in his summer house in Systroretzk, where he faced a severe psychological crisis. Zushchenko died on July 22, 1958, as a result of a heart attack.