The Long Walk by: Slavimor Rawicz

This is a short, but fascinating book about a group of Soviet convicts that manage to escape out of a Russian Gulag, and walk across Siberia, during the time of Communist Russia. And yet even that short, synoptic overview could never do this book justice. Packed into this little book is an amazing story of the will to survive, and to seek out and obtain freedom, beliefs, and ideals that are clearly, and very eloquently expressed.

The author, Slavomir Rawicz, was a Polish national that lived close to the Russian boarder, and served in the Polish army. Ultimately he ended up being arrested by the Russian State Police, and taken to a Russian prison, where his ordeal began. Finally landing in the infamous Lubyanka prison, Mr. Rawicz became the victim of extreme Russian "interrogation" before finally being given a farce of a trial, and sentenced to 25 years hard labor in a Russian Gulag labor camp.

This book provides an interesting look into not only the horrors of the Russian "prison system." But it also gives us an interesting look into life in the Russian, Siberian peninsula, and a myriad of other cultures, as he, and six of his friends escaped -- and trekked their way to freedom.
Their ability to survive, and their commitment not only to each other, but to their desire to escape being victims of a corrupt Soviet Regime are inspirational -- and provide a tribute to these amazing men, and the great example they can set for others who truly love freedom, and hate the oppression that comes with over powerful governments that seek to control, and ultimately destroy the lives of its citizenry. I can't begin to recommend this book enough. It is an inspirational story that I am grateful to have read, and grateful to Mr. Rawicz for having had the courage to share it with others.