Sleep No More (novel)

Sleep No More is a 1944 novel by British author David Footman. The novel is a political thriller set in the Soviet Union during the Stalinist era. It explores themes of paranoia, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of absolute power. The story centers around a British journalist working in Moscow who becomes entangled in the web of political intrigue and purges that characterized the period. He witnesses the systematic dismantling of individual freedom and the pervasive fear that gripped Soviet society.

The novel's title is a direct reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth, specifically Macbeth's line, "Sleep no more!" after he murders King Duncan. This allusion underscores the novel's themes of guilt, psychological torment, and the loss of innocence associated with participation in or complicity with evil acts.

Footman's work is notable for its realistic portrayal of life in Stalinist Russia, drawing on his own experiences working in the British diplomatic service in the region. The novel offers a critical perspective on the Soviet system and the psychological impact it had on its citizens. While not as widely known as some other anti-totalitarian novels, Sleep No More is considered a significant contribution to the literature of the Cold War era.