The House of Stilts

"The House of Stilts" is a captivating novel that delves into life in St. Petersburg’s squats, the experience of first love, and an artist’s inspiration drawn from nature. One of the central themes of the novel is the protagonist’s first love, which flourishes in an atmosphere of freedom and creativity. This tender love story is intricately woven into the broader narrative of squat life, where each character is on a journey of self-discovery, striving to carve out their place in the world and express their individuality. The story is set in the late 1990s, a time that feels frozen, and suspended in anticipation of change. Leningrad, with its narrow streets, peeling facades, and Soviet-era structures seemingly trapped in a bygone era, resembles a relic of the past, struggling to adapt to a new reality. In this place, where even the air seems infused with the essence of an older world, the tale of Leningrad’s Sophia unfolds.