The first in a series of linked short stories, 'Life Begins at Forty' introduces the Ribakov family of Volgograd. As the Russian economy, society and everything they have ever known disintegrate around them, father Nikolai, mother Nina and teenage son Ivan struggle to retain their dignity and integrity whilst coming to terms with the new reality of post-Communist 1990s Russia. These stories deal with the corrosiveness of bribery, corruption, disillusionment and despair, and the hope that comes from love and family that motivates the characters to carry on.Currently free, read it while you can.