A Small, Stubborn Town
Life, death and defiance in Ukraine – As heard on BBC Radio 4
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bonnier Books Ltd
Published:6th Jul '23
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The Russians are invading. But the locals have a plan.
- James Meek
'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' - Lindsey Hilsum
It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of Ukraine.
A Telegraph Book of the Year, soon to be a BBC Radio 4 dramatisation.
'Extraordinary.' Philippe Sands
'We are touched by the courage and dignity of Andrew Harding's characters - qualities that the author must surely possess in equal measure.' - Andrey Kurkov
'A story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people. - James Meek
'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' - Lindsey Hilsum
It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of Ukraine. Their destination: Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war.
The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight - or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals appear to have other ideas.
Svetlana, a grandmother with arthritis, reacts in fury when Russian troops turn her cottage into their blood-soaked headquarters. Valentin, a quick-talking lawyer, joins the town's 'Dads Army' defenders, crouching in a trench with an AK47. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Sergei grabs a Molotov cocktail and lies in wait for Russian tanks as they push towards Dead Water Bridge.
The odds are terrible. But a plan is emerging, and there's a chance it could save not just Voznesensk, but the rest of southern Ukraine. Meanwhile, inside the tanks, an inner battle rages. As Russian officer Igor Rudenko prepares to invade, he has a secret. He is Ukrainian himself.
A gripping work of reportage that tells the story of a pivotal moment in Ukraine's war, this is a real-life thriller about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with resilience, humour and ingenuity.
'[Andrew Harding is] one of our most gifted and sensitive journalists' - Jon Snow
'A short, brilliant book... Its characters could have walked out of a novel' * Financial Times *
'A cracking story ... that never loses sight of the "murderous absurdity" of Russia's war' -- Justin Marozzi * The Spectator *
'[A] remarkable story ... propulsive' * The Irish Times *
'Riveting and vividly written ... this gripping story is the literary equivalent of a superb miniature painting' * The Observer *
'The story of Ukraine in perfect microcosm - ordinary people doing absolutely extraordinary things - beautifully told' -- Christina Lamb
'A short, brilliant book on the battle for Voznesensk. Harding captures the mixture of courage, bewilderment and mania of Ukrainians who decide to fight the invasion' -- Gideon Rachman * Financial Times *
'Harding has told a mesmerising story of how in the face of a mighty army, ordinary people can sometimes turn and simply say, "No."' -- Sinclair McKay * Mail on Sunday *
'Elegantly told ... a deceptively simple narrative that explains a great deal about the dynamics of this war and many others' -- Roger Boyes * The Times *
'Harding recreates the fighting blow by-blow ... [and] the personalities of his interviewees come to life' * The Telegraph *
'Reads like a daring tale from WW2' -- Will Brown * Tortoise Media *
ISBN: 9781804183793
Dimensions: 222mm x 144mm x 20mm
Weight: 285g
160 pages