A frank, depressing, and unsettling, autobiography by a Polish lancer concerning his experiences in WWI as well as during the collapse of the Russian Empire and its conversion into the Soviet Union. In fact, this may be the most depressing book I've ever read. More depressing than anything by Celine or even All Quiet on the Western Front. Its anti-war message, however, is similar to All Quiet on the Western Front. Highly recommended if you can handle it. It was difficult enough to read; I can't imagine actually having lived through it all as Boleslavski did. ( )