The Milkman in the Night is at the same time a political satire, triple love story, black comedy, murder mystery and parable about modern Ukraine – a novel with so many punch lines, twists and stories as there are stars in the Milky Way. 

Every morning at half past four, when it is still dark and icy cold, young Irina gets on the bus to Kyiv. In the city, her breast milk is pumped out for cash while her own little daughter has to content herself with baby formula. Undoubtedly, a baby born to rich parents somewhere gets her milk, Irina thinks. In fact, however, it serves an influential parliamentarian as a magic potion . . . When Irina falls in love and no longer wants to work as a ›wet-nurse‹ , the politician is not amused. 

Andrej Kurkow brilliantly intertwines the life stories of three young couples. A crazy novel from the Ukraine, a country in which reality is more absurd than any fantasy – even such wild fantasies as those of Andrej Kurkow.