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Episode 4

In the late 1970s, Svetlana Alexievich set out to write her first book telling the as-yet-untold stories of the Russian women who had fought in the Second World War.

An extraordinary oral history of Russian Women's experiences in the Second World War.

In the late 1970s, Svetlana Alexievich realised that she had grown up surrounded by women who had fought in the Second World War, but whose voices were absent from official narratives. She said out to write her first book to document their stories.

Travelling thousands of miles, Svetlana spent years interviewing hundreds of Soviet women - captains, tank drivers, snipers, pilots, nurses and doctors - who had experienced the war on the front lines, on the home front and in occupied territories. As it brings to light their most harrowing memories, this symphony of voices reveals a different side of war, a new range of feelings, smells and colours.

Read by Sarah Badel, Teresa Gallagher and Jane Whittenshaw.

Written by Svetlana Alexievich.
Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.
Abridged by Sara Davies

Producer: Celia de Wolff
A Pier production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Aug 2017 00:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Reader Sarah Badel
Reader Teresa Gallagher
Reader Jane Whittenshaw
Author Svetlana Alexievich
Translation Richard Pevear
Translation Larissa Volokhonsky
Abridger Sara Davies
Producer Celia de Wolff

Broadcasts

  • Thu 3 Aug 2017 09:45
  • Fri 4 Aug 2017 00:30

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