The White Guard (Mikhail Bulgakov, 1925 but not allowed to be published until 1966)

The story looks at life in Kiev in the unsettled times following Russia's withdrawal from WWI. Primarily told from perspective of a family with connections to czarist Russia - part of the Whites.

Author wrote this wonderful, far more famous, work.

Bolsheviks ("Reds"), czarists ("Whites"), Ukrainian nationalists are fighting in various areas outside Kiev.  German forces have been hanging around in the wake of Russia's surrender - and generally maintaining order in Kiev - but now are withdrawing (Germany having its own problems in late 1918.)

Deeply interesting look at such a messed-up time.  White resources are limited and leadership feckless; Petlyura leads the Ukrainian forces into Kiev but the Reds are gaining strength.  White efforts to resist Petlyura are less than feeble - mostly a few officers and cadets, with limited resources.

The family through whose eyes the story mostly is told:  Alexei (doctor); Elena (their sister with the husband who leaves); Nikolka (younger brother - inexperienced cadet).  They were friends with a few officers; a family member unexpectedly joins them.  Neighbor downstairs is robbed.

Descriptions of Kiev in winter. 

This being Bulgakov - several passages involving characters having dreams.

Per Wikipedia - Bulgakov is tracking the history of these times pretty closely (including the Petlyura character (who actually never appears in the story despite constant references)).  I know very little about the details here, so much of this was new.

Turns out Bulgakov made this into a very successful stage play - supposedly seen often by Stalin - but he wasn't allowed to publish the book.

I liked it.