The Gates of Europe

The most distinguished historian of Ukraine writing in English. . . Mr Plokhy shows how Ukrainian language, culture and identity flourished in adversity -- which helps explain why, though they have only recently achieved a state of their own, Ukrainians are fighting heroically to defend it * Economist *
The world's foremost historian of Ukraine. . . the chronicler of a country on the front lines of a seismic European war * Financial Times *
Before my first reporting trip to Ukraine, one of my seasoned war correspondent colleagues had two pieces of advice. First, not to miss the delicious coffee and pastries you can find in Kyiv. Second, that it was absolutely necessary to read Serhii Plokhy's The Gates of Europe. I did, and it unwound 2,500 years of complex, fascinating and often tragic events, all the way from Herodotus's accounts of the ancient Scythians to the Maidan protests in Kyiv a decade ago -- Charlotte Higgins * Guardian *
A great place to start reading up on the background to the crisis. . . learned and considered, but lightly written and leavened by anecdotes -- Oliver Bullough * Guardian *
Clear and elegant... an indispensable guide to the tragic history of a great European nation -- David Blair * Sunday Telegraph *
A fast-moving history, full of prompts and nuggets... a strong rebuttal of the arrogant assumptions of the Putin court -- Roger Boyes * The Times *
Admirable... In his elegant and careful exposition of Ukraine's past, Mr Plokhy has also provided some signposts to the future * Economist *
An assured and authoritative survey that spans ancient Greek times to the present day -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *
Plokhy's careful, engaging history is a series of stories about a spectral nation, one that has appeared and disappeared down the ages... If sense ever prevails, Plokhy's fine book should find its way to Vladimir Putin's desk, if only to show the imperialist that Ukraine itself is far from done, and will not be extinguished -- Ian Bell * Herald Scotland *
Readers can find no better place to turn than Plokhy's book... He navigates the subject with grace and aplomb * Foreign Affairs *
A concise, highly readable history of Ukraine... a lively narrative peopled with a colorful cast of Norse and Mongol marauders, free-booting Cossacks, kings, conquerors and dictators, and conflicted 19th century intellectuals who believed fervently in a Ukrainian cultural identity but were fatally divided as to how that cultural identity could evolve into national entity * Washington Times *
An exemplary account of Europe's least-known large country... one of the joys of reading it is that what might seem a dense account of distant events involving unfamiliar places and people is leavened by aphorism and anecdote * Wall Street Journal *
Complex and nuanced, refreshingly revisionist and lucid, this is a compelling and outstanding short history of the blood-soaked land that has so often been the battlefield and breadbasket of Europe -- Simon Sebag Montefiore
This is present-minded history at its most urgent. Anyone wanting to understand why Russia and the West confront each other over the future of Ukraine will want to read Serhii Plokhy's reasoned, measured yet passionate account of Ukraine's historic role at the gates of Europe -- Michael Ignatieff
For a comprehensive, engaging, and up-to-date history of Ukraine one could do no better than Serhii Plokhy's aptly titled The Gates of Europe. Plokhy's authoritative study will be of great value to scholars, students, policy-makers, and the informed public alike in making sense of the contemporary Ukrainian imbroglio -- Norman M. Naimark