The Elusive Children's Book Written by Our Favorite War Lord

That's right. Prigozhin authored a children's book, and it's amazing.

Feb 14, 2024

In 2002, Wagner PMC’s Yevgeny Prigozhin created one of the most interesting and elusive children’s books to ever be published by a man of war. “Indraguzik,” a book containing 90 pages of fine print and exquisite illustrations, was made specifically as a gift for Prigozhin’s closest associates and business partners. Only 1,000 copies were made, and to my great frustration, it seems that not one of them has been made made available on the internet in its entirety.

The illustrations were done by two artists commissioned for the task, at least according to an interview conducted in 2003 for Gorod 812. In the interview Prigozhin explains that the book began out of fatherly necessity. He explained that at bedtime in the Prigozhin home, he had few stories to tell that were fit for the ears of children and so it became necessary to improvise and create for his family an imaginary world of what he calls “little people.” These tiny beings are something like fairies, but without the wings and the glitter and whatnot. Over time, Prigozhin’s daughter suggested they start recording the stories.

The book’s preface contains a photo of the Prigozhin family. The two children are cited as co-authors.

And so it was that the imaginary little Prigozhin family, who lived inside a chandelier which hung inside of a theatre, had their many adventures recorded. The use of figurative language here is worth highlighting. Think about it; there is a family living in luxurious light watching the shit-show unfolding below from above. The whole thing is just brilliant. The little child, Indraguzik, leaves the chandelier by way of floating on a stream and then ends up sleeping on a clean handkerchief belonging to the Big Indraguzik, a mirror image of his tiny self. The fact that the cleanliness of the handkerchief is specified not only in the book but in the interview as well is nothing short of wonderful.

Little Indraguzik, after being carried off to ride the subway when Big Indraguzik rolled him up in a magazine, finds himself on a wonderful adventure where he searches for a magic flute, making friends along the way. One of these friends is Gagarik, a little old man with a thick beard, raggedy clothing, and a pet bird. The elderly little person is kind enough to cook soup for mini Indraguzik, which is, of course, adorable. Little Indraguzik eventually meets the Big Indraguzik who had only accidentally carried him off to the subway, and they adventure together in the wonderful “Big City.” The book ends with a poem and the final line, “That’s it, I don’t really know any stories anymore.”

If any of my readers happen to have full access to the book, I want to be clear; Being a proletarian writer myself, I have very little money to offer. However, I would gladly offer my right kidney, or perhaps a few years of indentured servitude, for access to the entire work. I assure you, my dear readers, I will spare no expense at acquiring this mystical literary treasure for the good of the common welfare.

Until then, we must make do with the few pages that are available online. I have done my best to properly translate the text into English, and have searched the internet far and wide to provide as many images of the illustrations as possible.

Enjoy.