Independent Press Award
2024 winner
Perestroika: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
João Cerqueira
Perestroika overthrows communist regimes in Europe.
In the People's Republic of Slavia the former leaders are trying to survive the new times, while their victims seek revenge.
Former President Alfred Ionescu is placed in an asylum he himself built.
Zut Zdanov, the head of culture, is confronted with his child abuse.
Helena Yava, responsible for education, wants to avenge her lover's death.
Igor Olin, responsible for the economy, fights for his disabled son to have a dignified life.
Art historian Silvia Lenka wants to know who her parents are.
Lia Kirchner, the daughter of a painter who died in a re-education camp, wants to know the truth.
Having as a binding element Pilate's question to Jesus “what is truth?”, Perestroika is a novel of revenge, redemption and catharsis inspired by recent European history.