…This book woke me up…
Just when I thought I knew something about recent European history, I find I know nothing about the country of Latvia or its suffering under decades of Soviet occupation.
I remember having a great feeling of relief, the day the Berlin Wall came down. I remember my sense of joy and peace when I saw the televised concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (“Ode to Joy”) conducted by Leonard Bernstein in East Berlin.
I thought the USSR was finished.
Not so fast. The Soviets did not peacefully let go of some countries, like Latvia.
Eagle in the Fridge is a slightly fictionalized memoir by a journalist who participated in Latvia’s struggles for independence in 1990 and 1991. (The Berlin Wall came down in 1989). The book is listed as historical fiction, but the author, whom I met in a historical fiction Facebook group, admits that this is a true story, with individuals’ names changed and a few “unimportant” fictional details.
The author (whose real name is not Zenta Brice) was a Latvian journalist, about 29 at the time of Latvian independence. She told me there are hundreds of stories to tell. She said, “I got angry at fiction books written by Westerners [who] spent a bit of time in Moscow, without actually a clue about what’s going on.”
She wrote this book in English, with her language “tidied” by editors. Some odd phrasings slipped by the editors, but I think the oddities add to the genuine feel of the narrative.
Eagle in the Fridge is the first narrative I’ve read about the difficulties of daily living in a Soviet-controlled country. I’m very glad I read it. Check it out!
Click here to see the book on Amazon.
Click below to learn more about Latvia and the author:
Wikipedia article about Latvian independence (Note: the author said, “This is Wiki; there are inaccuracies”.)
Purchased this on your recommendation, Carol! Hope you are well!