Good Life Elsewhere

Vladimir Lorchenkov tells the story of a group of villagers and their tragicomic efforts, against all odds and at any cost, to emigrate from Moldova, Europe's most impoverished nation, to Italy for work. In this uproarious tale, an Orthodox priest is deserted by his wife for an art-dealing atheist; a mechanic redesigns his tractor for travel by air and sea; thousands of villagers take to the road on a modern-day religious crusade to make it to the promised land of Italy; meanwhile, politicians remain politicians. 'Outstanding ... darkly hilarious.' -- The Wall Street Journal 'A simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking tale.' -- Publishers Weekly 'A touching and hilarious chronicle about the age-old European yearning for one more chance. A chance that may never come ...' -- Gary Shteyngart 'Firmly in the great tradition of East European black humour and stands comparison with Hasek, Hrabal and Voinovich and will have you laughing - unless, of course, you are a sensitive soul.' -- The