‘Diary of a Loser," by Eduard Limonov, is a very strange, though fascinating, book. For some, including Russia's security and legal communities, this work is pornographic and looks similar to the thoughts of a deranged and dangerous man. For others, "Diary of a Loser" is a remarkable stream-of-consciousness piece exploring what it means to be Russian. Either way, following in the footsteps of Russia's literary tradition, this book is a fine example of what happens when the printed word meets politics.

Originally published in Russian in 1983 but only now translated into English, Limonov's diary is a series of reflections and vignettes describing his stay in New York. The book is not a diary in a conventional sense; there is very little feel of time or causality. What makes this book a fascinating read is one man's self-examination of what it means to be Russian, using life in New York as juxtaposition and backdrop.

The reader is never sure quite what is happening; never able to discern reality from imagination. The following sentence sums up the book in many ways: "I love insanity. My entire life is proof of this. It is not logic; it's ecstasy I cultivate. My morbid sensations give me pleasure." The reader is never really sure if Limonov is mentally ill or simply a free man wrestling with his conscience.

With Limonov on trial for sedition, "Diary of a Loser" provides valuable insight into what Russia's authorities are fighting – or simply what they are afraid of. In any case, Limonov is probably laughing to himself – his latest tribulations don't even begin to compare to the morbidity of his imagination as it is found in print.

For Moscow-based readers, "Diary of a Loser," with parallel texts in Russian and English, is at Shakespeare & Co. for 120.50 rubles.