The Persecutor
OCLC 703265 | |
The Persecutor, also known as Forgive Me Natasha and less commonly as Sergei, is the
It was published in English, then translated to at least fourteen languages including German,[5] Spanish,[6] French,[7] Russian,[8] and Dutch.[9] Although the English versions have since ceased publication, various foreign-language versions are still in print.
Background
The Persecutor details Sergei Kourdakov's early life in Novosibirsk Oblast, his life as an orphan, the raids he led on private Christian assemblies while a Naval academy student in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, his defection to Canada, and his new life in Canada and the United States. The book opens with Kourdakov's escape to Canada. Beginning with the second chapter, the book flashes back to Kourdakov's childhood.
Criticism
The Persecutor has been met with varied criticism regarding its authorship and accuracy. Some, such as Albert W. Wardin, believe that the biography was at least partially written by members of Underground Evangelism, the Christian organization which Kourdakov was a member of that helped smuggle Bibles into communist countries.[10] Wardin also claims that the book gives a distorted view of evangelical life in the Soviet Union, stating that "the allegation that for years before the late 1960s there was not even one Protestant church in Novosibirsk is untrue" and that "the figure of 30,000 Initiative Baptists in Kamthatka [...] and that of over 150 attacks in two years seems unbelievably high."[10]
In 2004, United States Christian journalist Caroline Walker released a drama
"On the first film shoot, I recognized that the book was much further from the truth than what I had first thought and might simply be fiction."
— Damian Wojciechowski[13]
The documentary received multiple awards at film festivals.[14]
See also
Notes and references
- ^ Diebel, Linda (June 19, 1972). "Political refugee turns evangelist – Russian deplores loss of God here". The Gazette (Montreal). Retrieved 2010-05-14.
- ISBN 0-313-28305-2.
- ^ Marilyn and John Schreiber. "Sergei Kourdakov Article #1". Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ISBN 0-8007-0631-5.
- ^ Published as Vergib mir Natascha. Trillin, Calvin (May 5, 1973). "US Journal: Southern California". The New Yorker. pp. 89–96.
- ^ Published as El Esbirro. "El esbirro; Sergei Kourdakov". 27 November 2003. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ Published as Pardonne-moi Natacha. Livre : Pardonne-moi Natacha. Sergei Kourdakov, Marc Fromager - 9782843782978. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ Published as Прости меня, Наташа.
- ^ Published as Vergeef mij, Natasja!. "Vergeef mij, Natasja! Sergei Kourdakov: ikoopjes.be". Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ .
- ^ "Forgive Me, Sergei". Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ "Forgive Me, Sergei - Irony of a 70th Year Anniversary Celebration". Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ "Forgive Me, Sergei - Director". Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ "Forgive Me, Sergei - Awards & Nominations". Retrieved 2010-04-19.