The Prodigal of Leningrad: A Novel

“Taylor's elegantly simple prose is compelling, and his attention to detail is the work of an expert storyteller. An unforgettable book that will resonate with readers of World War Il historical fiction.” – Library Journal starred review

“A man’s reverence for art leads to wartime defiance in the enchanting historical novel The Prodigal of Leningrad. Told with fabulistic clarity…a moving exploration of what it costs to uphold Christian virtues, including truth and beauty.” Foreword Reviews

In this World War II historical novel set during the harrowing siege of Leningrad, Daniil Aslanov, a docent at the Hermitage Museum, gives tours of empty frames. As the city starves, he battles a secret shame, while his grandfather—a persecuted Orthodox priest exiled to the Gulag—clings to faith.

While bombs fall and starvation grips the city, Daniil Aslanov continues to lead tours of empty frames through the Hermitage Museum. Although the museum’s masterpieces have been hidden away for safekeeping, their presence lingers in memory and meaning.

Daniil’s grandfather, an Orthodox priest exiled for decades to the brutal Gulag, embraces suffering as his sacred calling, thanking God for being allowed to minister to those around him. As Leningrad’s people perish, Daniil finds himself drawn to the story behind Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”

Beautifully told and based on real historical events, including the extraordinary wartime tours of the Hermitage’s empty galleries, The Prodigal of Leningrad is a stirring and unforgettable story of human resilience, and a profound meditation on art, faith, forgiveness and healing. 

Readers of The Nightingale,A Gentleman in Moscow, and City of Thieves, and all those interested in World War II history will welcome this important contribution to the genre.