A Prisoner In The Caucasus by Leo Tolstoy (Hardcover)

“A Prisoner in the Caucasus” is a short story written by Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1872. The story is about a soldier named Ivan Ilyich who is taken prisoner by a group of Chechen rebels in the Caucasus Mountains.

During his captivity, Ivan forms a bond with his captor, a Chechen named Hadji Murat, who has rebelled against his own people after being betrayed by his brother. Despite the language barrier between them, Ivan and Hadji Murat communicate through gestures and small acts of kindness, and Ivan begins to understand the reasons behind the Chechen rebellion.

Eventually, Ivan is rescued by Russian soldiers, but he is left with a newfound respect for the Chechens and their way of life. The story is often seen as a commentary on the futility of war and the importance of understanding and empathy in conflict resolution.