Episode 5
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.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
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
- Fri 4 Aug 2017 09:45Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Sat 5 Aug 2017 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Opening Lines
Sample our books and authors Clip Collection
Interviews, previews and reviews
Subscribe to the Short stories podcast
Featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Arts: Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.