The Island of Crimea was written by Vasily Aksenov in 1977-1979 and was first published in the USA in 1981, after the author left the USSR. A brilliant utopia and at the same time a dystopia, a political satire, a detective story - all this is 'Crimea Island'. The plot of the novel is based on two assumptions: what if Crimea were a full-fledged island and what if during the Civil War it went to the whites? The novel is set in the 1970s. In the alternative history created by Aksenov, Crimea turned into a prosperous state in relation to Russia. And yet the main character is driven by the idea of a common destiny, the idea of reunification with Russia. His dream comes true, but the free Crimea is destroyed, swallowed up by the Soviet colossus. Each new generation of readers interprets this novel in its own way, at each new stage of history new meanings are found in it, and the rapid development of the Crimean peninsula in recent years convinces anyone, regardless of political views. - tha