Roman Senchin is a prose writer, author of the novels “The Eltyshevs”, “The Flood Zone”, “Information”, and many collections of short prose. Winner of the Big Book and Yasnaya Polyana awards, finalist of the Russian Booker and National Bestseller awards. A breakdown, a failure in the “system of life” happens in every story included in Roman Senchin’s new book. The acutely social novel “The Eltyshevs” about the breakdown of a family is recognized as one of the most important statements in prose of the last decade. In the novels and short stories of the “Breakdown” series, the lives of the heroes are divided into before and after; reality offers trials that will reveal the dark sides of the human soul and make you look differently at the world and at yourself. But even in the seeming element of hopelessness, you can find light. The main thing is to remain able to perceive it. Senchin tests the reader for this ability.