Although this book is catalogued with war memoirs (nonfiction), I'm convinced it's fiction, in part because, as a "diary," it's too self-aware. (For example, several assertions to the end of, "These are my private thoughts, no one will ever read them, these are things I could never say out loud," etc.) Nonetheless, it obviously draws immensely from the author's own experience as a civilian in Russia during WWI. Not particularly entertaining as a novel, overdramatic and long-winded at times, but interesting, and there are several turns of phrases that are very lovely. ( )