LAST WITNESSES: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE CHILDREN OF WWII

From the Nobel Prize-winning author comes an oral history of children’s experiences in WWII across Europe and Russia, in the celebrated tradition of her masterpiece, The Unwomanly Face of War.

Bringing together dozens of voices in her distinctive style, Last Witnesses is Svetlana Alexievich’s collection of the memories of those who were children during World War II. These men and women were both witnesses and sometimes soldiers as well, and their generation grew up with the trauma of the war deeply embedded in them—a trauma that would forever change the course of the Russian nation. This is a new version of the war we’re so familiar with. Alexievich gives voice to those whose stories are lost in the official narratives, uncovering a powerful, hidden history from the personal and private experiences of individuals. Collectively, these voices provide a kaleidoscopic portrait of the human consequences of the war.

Story Locale:Â Europe and Russia, WWII