The Unwomanly Face of War cover art

The Unwomanly Face of War

Penguin Modern Classics

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The Unwomanly Face of War

By: Svetlana Alexievich, Larissa Volokhonsky - translator, Richard Pevear - translator
Narrated by: Yelena Shmulenson, Julia Emelin
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexeivich, read by Julia Emelin and Yelena Shmulenson.

Bringing together dozens of voices in her distinctive style, The Unwomanly Face of War is Svetlana Alexievich's collection of stories from Soviet women who lived through the Second World War: on the front lines, on the home front and in occupied territories. As Alexievich gives voice to women who are absent from official narratives - captains, sergeants, nurses, snipers and pilots - she shows us a new version of the war we're so familiar with, creating an extraordinary alternative history from their private stories.

Published in 1985 in Russia and now available in English for the first time, The Unwomanly Face of War was Alexievich's first book and a huge best seller in the Soviet Union, establishing her as a brilliantly revolutionary writer.

©2017 Svetlana Alexievich (P)2017 Penguin Audio Military Women War Soviet Union Russia

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Instead of men writing about war the women of Russia have their say about World War 2 and all its tribulations. Their story would be the same the world over throughout history. Some stories can reduce you to tears, others about bravery and fortitude can show what can be done in the face of overwhelming odds and the brutality of war. A book not for the faint hearted but still worth listening too.

Sadness of War

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Often harrowing in the extreme the experiences of these girl soldiers tell of some of the depths that man and mankind can reach - and which remains true in today’s world - as well as sometimes telling of the heights. This reminds me of the book The Dark Continent which describes the aftermath of WWII throughout Europe when, as I recall, more people were killed than during the war, often with unbelievable barbarity. The Russian nation suffered so much both during and after the war and, nowadays, their contribution toward victory tends to shamefully be ignored. So important that these memories have been painstakingly gathered, recorded and published - thank you

What an Undertaking

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The stories of the women are heartwrenching but beautiful. Stories of loss and grief, of women who participated in wwII..

heartwrenching

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Great book, very hard to listen to some parts, shocking to hear what these Russian women went through in the fight against the Nazis! We owe them great gratitude for sharing their stories, and to the author for her work in writing their stories down.

Excellent - shocking!

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Beautifully told by those who lived it. Awful but essential listening. Buy it and live it. I don't often leave a review and this is not a book I would have read, but listen to it and feel it.

The awful face of war

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