Vladimir Sharov (1952–2018) – writer and historian, author of the cult novels Before and During, The Resurrection of Lazarus, Be Like Children, The Old Girl, Return to Egypt, The Kingdom of Agamemnon ". Winner of the "Russian Booker" and "Big Book" awards.In "Rehearsals" - as always under the pen of Sharov - Russian history, fused with biblical stories, acquires absolutely fantastic features: Moscow of the 17th century becomes the Promised Land , in New Jerusalem, Patriarch Nikon and a captured French director conduct rehearsals for the Second Coming, and people divided by role play out the events from the Gospel again and again in anticipation of Christ, passing the roles from generation to generation until the middle of the 20th century ... The book contains foul language