Prekrasna Isidora

Preface

The violence in this story may make some readers uncomfortable, but rest assured none of it is gratuitous. The people and locations throughout the story have been researched as carefully as possible, and the reader may assume that in all instances the actions of the characters in the story mirror the behavior of real people in real circumstances. Descriptions of physical locations, vehicles, weapons, local customs, and most other details are factual. The story of Chechnya is a sad one, both from the viewpoint of the Chechen people and of the poorly equipped, poorly trained and mostly very young Russian soldiers. The reader may be interested to learn that many of the descriptions of events and places are taken from real news articles. Many of the other scenes are written based on my personal experience and travels in Eastern Europe.

The plot loosely follows the classic love story "Tristram & Isolde", which is Irish in origin and was first written circa 1185. Since that time the story has been rewritten many times and details have been added from many other sources. Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde" is one version. Each different version has its own plot twists and ending, but the theme is one of a strong and eternal love that binds the two central characters together against the manipulations of powerful people. Each version has it's own ending, some end in despair, some are bittersweet, and in some the characters live happily ever after. You'll have to read to the end to see how the lovers in this version fare. The title "Prekrasna Isidora" is actually Russian more than Chechen; the Chechen version would be more like "Xaza Izolda". In any case, the English translation is "Fair Isolde". I hope you enjoy the story.