A couple of months ago, I read Pavel Nilin's "Comrade Venka" (a bit by accident - I bought it secondhand while on holiday, as I had run out of reading matter....)
Great book, especially for a simple Westener like myself, as there are lots of little cultural aspects between the lines, ways of thinking that are different from ours, little different bits and bobs of history - and the story (and especially the characters) are really good.... though very sad....

I'm well chuffed to have found the same book now on the 'Net - in Russian . The original title is "Жестокость" - now wonder I couldn't find it when I searched for "Товарищ Венька"!!

The language used (in the English translation) seemed pretty simple and straightforward, so I'm going to give the Russian version a brave go - although I'll keep both the English version and a stack of dictionaries at hand....

My brain may explode in the process - but I'll try anyway....