Some call this novel the greatest work of Soviet-era or at least Stalin-era Russian literature. I'm not qualified to have an opinion on that, but the book is beyond any question a pure delight to read. It convinced a callow 18-year-old me to press on with my Russian language studies so I could enjoy it better.

I've never read an English translation, but perhaps I should try this one and see how it holds up! I'm not a stickler for accuracy if the translator is able to bring the spirit and artistic sensibility over from the original.