Island, or Justification of Meaningless Journeys

"Island, or Justification of Meaningless Journeys" by Vasily Golovanov is a book-essay, a documentary prose that is equally artistic prose, a travelogue filled with philosophy and poetry. The meditative journey becomes a way of creative interaction with the geographical territory. Exploring time and space, Golovanov describes the harsh yet alluring northern landscapes of Kolguev Island, reflects on the past and future of this pristine land, shows the way of life of nomadic peoples, and gives voice to the Nenets and Pomors themselves. The journey to the polar island became a journey into the author's inner self, and the island is seen as a territory of salvation, where inner freedom and seemingly lost ability to create can be found. Golovanov has constructed a completely unique world in "Island" that one wants to return to again and again.