Wave of Terror: A Novel

By Theodore Odrach, Emma Odrach and T.F. Rigelhof

This novel is a major literary discovery, and Odrach is drawing favorable comparisons with such eminent writers as Chekhov and Solzhenitsyn. Odrach wrote in Ukrainian, while living an exile's life in Toronto. This remarkable book is a microcosm of Soviet history, and Odrach provides a first-hand account of events during the Stalinist era that newsreels never covered. It has special value as a sensitive and realistic portrait of the times, while capturing the internal drama of the characters with psychological concision. Odrach creates a powerful and moving picture, and manages to show what life was really like under the brutal dictatorship of Stalin, and brings cataclysmic events of history to a human scale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781613732267

Theodore Odrach

Theodore Odrach was born Theodore Sholomitsky in 1912 outside of Pinsk, Belarus. At the age of nine, he was arrested for a petty crime by the authorities. Without his parents' knowledge, he was sent to a reform school in Vilnius, Lithuania (then under Polish rule). Released at the age of 18, he entered what is now Vilnius University, studying philosophy and ancient history. With the Soviet invasion in 1939, he fled Vilnius and returned to his native Pinsk, where he secured a job as headmaster of a village school. As with all teachers of the time, his main duties were to transform the school system into a Soviet one and usher in complete russification. Within a year, he fell under suspicion by the Soviet regime and became imprisoned on some trumped-up charge. He managed to escape and flee south to Ukraine (then under German occupation), where he edited underground war-time newspapers. Toward the end of the war, with the return of the Bolshevik regime, he fled over the Carpathian Mountains to the West. Traveling through Europe, in Germany he met and married Klara Nagorski. After living in England for five years, in 1953 he and his wife immigrated to Canada. It was in his home in Toronto that Odrach did most of his writing. He died of a stroke in 1964.

Reviews for Wave of Terror

[simonhughwheeler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hlaby, a forgotten village in the Pinsk Marshes, a forgotten corner of Ukrania. It would seem to be a good place to escape the turmoil caused by the occupying Russians.The local people have endured Polish occupation and just when they think they?ve adjusted to being forced to adopt their way of life, the Russians have trampled into the country, expecting everyone to do an about-turn and take on their form of doing things, not the least of which is learn a new language. Even then, there is confusion as to whether it should be Belarus, (not the logical choice of Ukranian, since that is where the village is found), or the language of the governing country, Russian. And God help anyone who questions these decisions. Well, maybe not God, as religion has been banned, too.Theodore Odrach?s book, Wave of Terror, examines this pervading feeling of confusion and fear. The book has been compared to Chekhov?s writing and I agree for example, with the similarity in style where the plot is not as important as showing the feelings of the characters, their response to this situation. Odrach gives finely detailed illustrations of their emotions and not just of the local people, but of the perpetrators of this misery, too, with their greed, ambition and delight in their power and control.I found it interesting that Odrach shows how the regime changed the way people related to each other. Fear and distrust mean that you behave and respond differently in the day-to-day contact with neighbours, friends, workmates, etc. An example is where the main character, Ivan Kulik, falls in love with a girl who, completely opposite to him, openly embraces the new regime, even though her attempts at speaking Russian are ridiculous. Ivan cannot relax and speak freely with her, being continually worried about whether she could secretly be an informer. The constant tension of being unsure of everyone, eventually takes its toll.I expected it to be heavy going, but was surprised that the story is an enjoyable read, even if the subject is quite strong. Although the plot is secondary to showing the impact on people?s lives and relationships, there are some truly powerful scenes. It is beautifully written, laced with wonderful descriptions: you really feel the cold, drab misery of the Pinsk Marshes. Well-paced, never getting bogged down, offering an insight into the history of a little-known part of the world that has since only become famous due to the nearby disaster in Chernobyl. A story that left an impression on me and one of the few books that I would love to read again.

[nanajlove_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wave of Terror is an unfinished novel depicting the struggles and mind set of post-revolutionary communist expansion. Beautifully translated by the author's youngest daughter, this book eloquently describes the physical and psychological stress the people of eastern Europe endured as they were geographically trapped between despots. Despite knowing that the novel was an unfinished piece, I became so wrapped up in the characters and story that the abrupt end came as a shock; the enthralling story could have easily continued for another 300 pages, and I would have been thrilled to read all of it. Theodore Odrach's masterful depiction of the emotional strain and nuance endured by his characters is a rare treat, adding depth and substance to such memorable actors. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."?

[bethieng · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wave of Terror by Theodore Odrach is set in the region of Ukraine in 1939 at the very start of the reign of the USSR. The book follows a number of different characters as they all try to come to terms with the regime and as they struggle to survive in the very fragile world they they find themselves in. The book chronicles their fear and horror as they see their family members and others in their community disappear.I really liked this version of the story of the USSR. I have read other versions and what they tell about Stalin and the USSR, and none of them have captured the fear of the time such as Odrach has. One of the main characters, Kulik, really shows the thought process of the people who lived under Stalin. It also shows the thought process of the people in power, the men who are responsible for "re-educating" the population. To me, what was really interesting was seeing the people who rose to power, the type of person who inevitably rises in such a regime. It really really made it interesting for me. This was an amazing novel, and it is something that everyone should read as it shows a different perspective of the USSR takeover.

[blacksheepdances · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Talk about a timely book! This novel is based on Theodore Odrach’s own life when Stalin’s Red Army came in to power in Belarus. Given that Belarus is very much in the news this week, with the controversy over recent elections and the beating and deportation of several journalists, it seems that a glimpse at its history is appropriate.I know of several people who have read Wave of Terror recently, and all were moved by it because of how revealing the novel is about resilience, fear, and courage. Briefly, it deals with the experiences of a school teacher in the rural region of the Pinsk marshes-one who finds himself trying to walk the tightrope of pleasing the new regime without losing his moral balance. He is an endearing character, much like Ivan in Vasily Grossman’s Everything Flows. However, while the Grossman novel features Ivan looking back on his experiences, in this we see Kulik and what he is thinking as he experiences the significant events that turn the small region upside down, yet again. As an educated man, he is a threat to the Stalinist leaders, who give him simple advice to follow:“I know you’re a historian with a degree…which is not to your credit. To put it simply, you have an education from a bourgeois institution where you were taught not only by non-socialist professors but also by pretentious, self-serving priests. You were educated in a hostile and unproductive environment. Take my advice and study the five volumes of Soviet history. Become a master of Marxist methodology…Give added attention to the Communist Manifesto, and learn how the capitalist classes of all nations will be overthrown and eliminated by a worldwide working-class revolution.”The pressure to succumb to the indoctrination is great; if he doesn’t conform he will be shipped away to Siberia. Anyone can endanger him, as just the simplest lie about him from a student or associate will be enough to remove him, because the regime rewards those who inform. With a starving community and hostility around, every word he speaks endangers him, and yet “even silence could bring disaster”. The story of how he moves through this virtual minefield is both surprising and inspiring. What is especially revealing about the novel’s voice is its coverage of the subject of languages. Having read a few Stalin-era books lately, I hadn’t quite caught on to how language itself is a tool of indoctrination. In Kulik’s rural village, the villagers normally spoke Ukrainian. Having been previously invaded by Poland however, they had been impelled to only speak Polish before reverting back to Ukrainian. Then the regime change insisted that they all speak Belorussian, but made clear it was a stepping stone to the entire area speaking Russian. Without access to their native tongue, the people had much of their culture stripped away, long before the Red Army came in and further eliminated cultural distinctions. Germany eventually occupied Belarus as well, which adds yet another linguistic layer to their history.The language issue is significant because even now in Belarus, as its citizens are divided because those who wish to retain the Belorussian language and cultural identity (in order to prevent further “Russification” of their region) are outnumbered by those who wish to embrace the Russian language for simplification and economic benefit. The loss of one’s native language means the loss of unique phrases, idioms, and subtle historical details. The poet Valzhyna Mort is one writer who is fighting for the language, which she describes in parts of her book Factory of Tears. Wave of Terror also answered a question that had been gnawing at me. Why did the people let the Red Army take over? Why didn’t they resist more? In the narrative, a key element made a great impact on me: the people were hungry and without basic necessities. In this state of desperation, any change was embraced, even if it meant turning on lifelong friends or family, and even if the promised changes never materialized. Stalin’s leaders offered food to hungry people, and although they didn’t get much, they were easily manipulated. It’s the same sort of manipulation that Hitler used to great effect, as well as the Roman Caesars who were able to draw crowds to the gladiator fights with the promise of food. Without the essentials of daily life, oppression can easily take root, because the ordinary person has so little to lose. Lastly, despite all the fear and suffering endured, it was interesting to read of what doesn’t change. Old married couples still fought and young people still sought romance. People still danced and enjoyed a drink and found pleasure in the simplest of foods. Perhaps this was the key to survival-maintaining their humanity and dignity when others lost their own.

[kissmeimgone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing book that I couldn't seem to put down. Tells the tale of when Stalin began to take over Belarussia, and how, even in the darkest of times, no one seems to be able to be trusted. High paranoia, nowhere to turn, questioning the political changes around him, Ivan Kulik's just trying to stay alive, I recommend this book to everyone interested in WWII and the before-era. =]

[santhony_35 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wave of Terror is a novel detailing the Soviet absorption of the Pinsk region of what is now Belorussia. Written by Ukranian author Theodore Odrach, the work was a project undertaken by Odrach’s daughter, Erma, who accumulated his writings, organized them and translated them into English after his death.The book begs obvious comparison to Vasily Grossman’s magnificent Life and Fate, and to its credit, is not found wanting. Set in the year 1940, the novel examines the lives of poor, Ukranian peasants (moujiks), recently liberated from their Polish overlords, only to be enslaved by the even more onerous and heavy handed Soviet bureaucrats. The story is told through the eyes of Ivan Kulik, headmaster of a small, provincial school in the hamlet of Hlaby. Despite being predominantly Ukranian, the region has been nonsensically attached to the Belorussian SSR and teachers instructed to conduct classes in either the Belorussian or Russian language, despite the fact that the school children do not understand either. Pointing out this absurdity is enough to brand Kulik as a Ukranian nationalist and subject him to great danger. Throughout the novel, characters are commonly swept up, tortured, deported and murdered for little or no reason. Odrach does a magnificent job of capturing the terror and hopelessness engendered by the wave of Communist oppression which swept through the newly conquered Soviet republics. The petty, local dictatorships and mind numbingly absurd bureaucratic dictates would be hard to imagine were they not historically accurate. The never ending suspicion and paranoia resulting from the known presence of hidden informants and the frequent disappearances of friends and colleagues, is well illustrated by the following passage:"The truth of the matter was, Ivashkevich was a government agent, an informer, with one purpose- to get him, Kulik, on even the flimsiest of suspicions. Yes, he understood it all now; he was being pursued, and by someone in the school, and now more than ever he had to watch his every step."And this gem of logic:“We’re all one and the same, and I’ll prove it to you. Take, for example, the merchants of Pinsk. Just last week, weren’t they all rounded up and interrogated, then imprisoned equally? The Poles, the Ukranians, the Jews- no one group got discriminated against. Hah! So there you have it, we are all equal!”This is an outstanding novel, written by a little known author, whose work would have likely never been recognized were it not for the labors of his daughter, who compiled and translated it. Much of the book is clearly patterned after the life and experiences of the author which gives it added significance. Highly recommended.

[anastasiahobbet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this dark and terrifying novel depicting the brutal Stalinist takeover of Belarus in 1939, Theodore Odrach somehow manages to be funny. It’s no small feat to leave your reader feeling both harrowed and amused, but Odrach does it again and again, reminding me (as he does others) of Anton Chekov. His prose is similarly plain. He isn’t out to wow you with the poetry of his words, and so the impact of the story may catch you unawares. As Winston Churchill said—and he was in a position to know, “A joke is a very serious thing.” In the immediate wake of the book, what’s most haunting is how quickly and completely the fear of the Soviets corrodes the natural trust between the residents of the invaded land, whose portraits are caught in a few, stark lines. All the rules have changed—they change almost daily—and no one knows where they stand, even with their own closest friends and associates. It’s this realization—he can trust no one—that drives Ivan Kulik, the endearing and charismatic main character of the novel, to take a final, desperate step.The story behind the story of this novel is also fascinating: how Theodore Odrach’s daughter Erma came to translate her father’s writings, which led to a jarring discovery of his true history. The mysteries that remain about this nearly-unknown man leave me looking forward to much more from Erma Odrach, including (I hope) a memoir of her own.

[tomveal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In September 1939, reaping the reward for its pact with Hitler, the Soviet Union occupied eastern Poland. Many of the region's inhabitants were Slavs who had chafed under Polish domination. Soon they learned that there were worse masters.Theodore Odrach lived through this takeover. Wave of Terror distills his observations and experiences into a novel that might be described as a meld of Solzhenitsyn and Chekhov. The terrible events to which the English title alludes take place in the background. Immediately before the reader's eyes are commonplace human beings perplexed by an arbitrary and capricious new regime as they gradually become aware of its enormity.The central character, Ivan Kulik, is a young, well educated school teacher assigned to a post in the Pripyet Marshes. Though quite apolitical, he comes under suspicion as a Ukrainian nationalist after insisting that his pupils be taught in Ukrainian, the language they know, rather than the Belorussian of the Soviet republic to which they have been annexed. As the weeks pass, his life transforms into a series of mysteries and puzzles. Is he in danger of imminent arrest, or are his fears unfounded? Which of his friends, neighbors and colleagues are informers? Who really holds power in the village of Hlaby? Is a fellow teacher's beautiful cousin a delicate damsel in distress or the mistress of an NKVD brute? Is her brother living happily in a distant city, or is he immured in an NKVD dungeon? Is the local education minister's secretary a secret overseer reporting to Moscow or a covert dissident?Of particular interest is a theme that could come straight from Solzhenitsyn: the ascendancy of the lie. Again and again, characters start to exchange frank opinions, then fearfully draw back, mouthing praises of Joseph Vissarionovich and the Communist Party. Even the initially outspoken villagers finally succumb. Freedom can be found only in the depths of the marshes, out of the sight and reach of the authorities.In Chekovian style, Kulik is not an active hero. His plans unravel. His questions remain unanswered. His relationships go nowhere. Only in the last pages of the book is he compelled to act. Most of the incidents are low-key (though not all; they include an interrogation by the secret police and an attempted rape). Some scenes, such as the encounter between a female communist functionary's rival lovers, are overtly comic. The appeal of the novel lies, however, in the characters and milieu, not in action.Wave of Terror was originally published in Ukrainian under the less portentous title Voshchad, which, I am told, denotes the transition between darkness and dawn. Given the kind of day that is to follow, that title is full of irony and suits the novel well. The translation, by the author's daughter, is fluent, though blemished by clichés.The author's intention was to continue Ivan Kulik's story through World War II and into the post-war era, but the sequels were never written. The work that we have is, nonetheless, complete in its own right, a compelling picture of a little known place and time.

[lynneinfla · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wave of Terror was an interesting book about an area of World War II with which I was not familiar. Having visited both the Ukraine and Poland, I have wanted to read more about what happened there during the war. I was a little surprised that there was less blatant terror than I had expected from the book. Although there were instances of people being taken off to camps by the Soviets/Communists, for the most part people seemed to be just moving along in a sort of frozen life, just hoping not to be seen, but still hoping to survive. I suspect that this is true of all people in repressive situations. The will to live is strong and people will put up with a lot just to stay alive.Overall, I thought the book was well written and explained the problems of coping under the Soviet system during this period. I also thought that the author's daughter did a good job of translating the book and making it very readable.

[ronrose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a tale of life in the Ukrainian-Belorussian borderland of 1939, under the new, but already festering regime of Joseph Stalin. Ivan Kulik has been recently appointed the headmaster of a school in a small provincial village, seemingly far from the reach of the new government. The author loses no time in bringing his characters to life. In deceptively simple prose, we are introduced to the villagers and gently drawn into their lives, only to find the darkness within. We are rewarded with deep insights into the minds of the characters, as the Stalinist regime, backed by the terror of the NKVD, the secret police, invades every aspect of the villagers lives. We are shown deep insights into a mind which, when always under oppression, may leap through all sorts of negative scenarios. Oppression and repression feed on fear, strengthening and enabling them. Mr Odrach, having lived through much of what he writes, shows us the mind can be a dark and dangerous place. In his writing, the fear of a violent, sudden death is a constant companion. The NKVD dealt out death sentences or torture, not only for overt acts of rebellion, but for merely wrong thoughts or words or the whispered rumors of these by one's neighbors. The mere thought that no one can be trusted to be a true friend and not an informer, can have a devastating effect on one's piece of mind. The book shows us that fear can make self preservation kick in, making us give up everything and everyone. Hope, friendship, love, all can be lost in the effort to save ourselves. Can we truly be free when we know that those left behind are still enslaved? This is a very enlightening and at the same time entertaining book written by an author who lived much of what he writes about.