One Man in his Time

An extraordinary rediscovered classic memoir of one man's scientific career amidst the purges of Stalinist Russia 'Remarkable... an astonishing testimony that has never seemed more timely or more pertinent' Nicholas Shakespeare From humble origins, the eminent Russian scientist Nicholas Borodin forged a career in microbiology in the era of Stalin. Pragmatic and dedicated to his work, he accepted the Soviet regime, even working on several occasions with the Secret Police. But in 1948, while on a state-sponsored trip to the UK to report on the bulk manufacture of antibiotics, he could no longer ignore his rising consciousness of the suppression of independent thought in his country. It was then that he committed high treason by writing to the Soviet ambassador to renounce his citizenship. One Man in his Time is the story of a man trying to live an ordinary life in extraordinary times. Rich in incident and astonishing details, it charts Borodin's childhood during the revolution and famine through to his scientific career amidst the suspicion and violence of the purges. Unsparing and frank in its depiction of the author's collaboration with Soviet authorities, it offers unparalleled insight into the daily reality of life under totalitarian rule.

Auteur

N.M. Borodin was born in 1905 in Kamensk, Russia. After a childhood marred by civil war and famine, Borodin enrolled to study in Novocherkassk with the aim of becoming a microbiologist. He briefly served in the Red Army as part of his military service before embarking on a successful career researching animal disease, including posts in Armavir, Moscow and Baku. Working throughout the violence and suspicion of Stalin's purges, Borodin cooperated with the political police and eventually received the Order of Lenin. He renounced his Soviet citizenship while on a trip to London in 1948, and went on to write One Man in His Time, a memoir of his life and career in Stalinist Russia.