In this lyrical novel, two young lovers, Vladimir and Alexandra (known fondly to each other as Vovka and Sashka), are separated from one another. Vovka has gone off to war, forcing the two to keep their love alive through a passionate exchange of letters. But as their correspondence continues, it becomes clear that their separation is chronological as well as geographical—that their extraordinary romance is actually created out of, as well as kept alive by, their yearning epistolary exchange, which defies not only space but time.With this contrapuntal testament to the delirious, transcendent power of love, the most celebrated Russian author of his generation has created a masterpiece of modern fiction.