Overview

The funny novel that introduced Mister Pushkin to the world. Set at a time when Mister Pushkin was less cultured, Klem was much younger, and both their lives were very different. The 1960s were just getting into their swing - miniskirts were all the rage, The Beatles topped the charts, and housewives were no longer chained to the kitchen sink. Freedom was in the air, and life was becoming a thing to enjoy. But between the sturdy sandstone walls of a terraced house in Yorkshire, popular music was forbidden and discipline was strictly enforced. This was no ordinary household, and it was only a matter of time before everything changed in a most unexpected way... The Dancing Barber is a humorous thriller, set within the eccentric household of Taras, who was once Europe's finest ballet dancer. Now he is a mediocre barber by day, and a perfectionist ballet master by night. After a successful performance of Swan Lake at the local theatre, he is finally on the verge of the success that was denied him three decades earlier. The last thing he needed was for Klem to move into his attic. Klem is a former priest and a former alcoholic. And wherever Klem goes, his mischievous cat always follows, and so does a great deal of trouble in the shape of a crazy Soviet Colonel... Taras' life is further complicated when Klem's uncouth and penniless fiancée moves in, along with her equally uncouth and penniless twin sister. The twins reluctantly divulge shocking secrets that will affect Taras' entire family forever. The Dancing Barber has been awarded a five-star seal by readersfavorite.com A selection of official reviewers' quotations: ""This tapestry of characters, secrets, relationships and hardships is peppered with humour that undercuts some truly terrifying moments."" ""Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, always entertaining."" ""This book is finely crafted and the story spills onto the page in just a perfect way."" ""The plot is intense, fast-paced and, at every stage of the story, the readers' interest only gets stronger."" ""AC Michael is a good storyteller with a sharp sense of humour."" ""The Dancing Barber is not to be missed!"" Be warned: The habits and hygiene of certain characters are not for the squeamish.

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9780995629509

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Reviews

REVIEW 1 (Rabia Tanveer for readersfavorite.com) The Dancing Barber by A.C. Michael is the sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, and always entertaining story of Taras. He was once a Ukrainian living in Stalin's Soviet Union. Regardless to say, he lived vicariously and dangerously. His life changed dramatically and he knew it. He never got the recognition for his talent that he should have. But 30 years on and living in England, he finally has everything he always wanted; a family, fortune, and recognition for his talent. However with his past blocking his bright future, what can Taras do to live his life the way he wants to? First of all, I love the way this novel was written. From the beginning, it had an eerie feeling of doom that kept me excited and wanting more. I could taste the suspense and, at some points, my hands were sweating. This is some seriously powerful writing. The chapters were divided into acts, which gave a theatrical feel to the book and, because of this, I could picture the characters and I could imagine how they would look and sound. This is world class writing! REVIEW 2 (Romuald Dzemo for readersfavorite.com) AC Michael is a good storyteller with a sharp sense of humor and, even in the midst of terrifying and gruesome circumstances, the author still succeeds in putting a smile on the faces of his readers. Readers can't remain indifferent to the powerful characters featured in the story, like Taras, Voloshin, and Klem. The writer has masterfully integrated historical elements into the tale of a man who discovers at the end that he can run away from dictatorship and his worst enemies, but not from himself. The different levels of conflict explored in this spellbinding story are deep and will intrigue readers at every turn. The plot is intense, fast-paced, and at every stage of the story the readers' interest only gets stronger. Lovers of historical fiction will undoubtedly enjoy The Dancing Barber. I loved it. REVIEW 3 (Tracy Fischer for readersfavorite.com) I very much enjoyed The Dancing Barber. Author AC Michael has done a great job in creating characters that his readers will connect with and care about, a true hallmark of a great author. His historical scene setting skills are second to none, and readers will feel as if they can simply slip through the pages to war torn Russia as well as mid century Europe. I am pleased to highly recommend The Dancing Barber to any reader who enjoys historical fiction or just a great read of fiction in general. I look forward to reading more from the talented author, AC Michael, as soon as I possibly can, and hope that he is hard at work on his next great work even now! REVIEW 4 (Katheryn Bennett for readersfavorite.com) This is my first book by AC Michael and it will not be my last. This story will put you through the wringer emotionally, but it also has intrigue and danger and shows you just how far humans will go for many things. It shows how the human spirit can endure and also how cruel it can be. Lessons that even now in our modern age still ring true and are a stark reminder of things. This book is finely crafted and the story spills onto the page in just a perfect way. I recommend anyone interested in history, or just a really good read that will have you wanting to talk to your friends about it, should read this book. REVIEW 5 (KC Finn for readersfavorite.com) I found the whole experience to be harrowing, dark and thrilling. Taras' experience and those of the peasants who managed to survive under Stalin's rule are startling and dramatic, and it helps the audience to understand the unusual main character we are presented with in the novel's main timeline in the sixties. A truly human story at its heart, this tapestry of characters, secrets, relationships and hardships is peppered with humour that undercuts some truly terrifying moments.

Author Information

AC Michael, a former company executive and teacher, has written stories for as long as he can remember. His first novel, The Dancing Barber, achieved some critical success, and was a No.1 historical fiction title on Amazon. The experience encouraged him to continue writing. A keen gardener and hill-walker, he divides his time between managing a small business, doing housework, reading a wide range of books, and writing stories about Mister Pushkin.

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