Beyond the Limits of Pain

«Beyond the Limits of Pain» is an autobiographical novella by Osyp Turiansky that depicts the author's harrowing experiences as a prisoner of war during World War I. 60,000 Austrian prisoners captured by the Serbs were forced to march through the mountains of Albania during the Serbian retreat westward. Ultimately, 45,000 of the prisoners perished due to cold and disease.

The story centers on seven soldiers who manage to escape from their guards. They find themselves surrounded by a frozen wasteland, enduring suffering, the realization of their impending doom, and a desperate struggle for survival. This book is a true shock, a book of trauma – a harrowing testament from a soldier who survived when all of his friends perished.