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  • Published: 28 July 2008
  • ISBN: 9780141013510
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 784
  • RRP: $45.00

The Whisperers

Private Life in Stalin's Russia




A gripping and emotional account of lives lived in impossible times

Drawing on a huge range of sources - letters, memoirs, conversations - Orlando Figes tells the story of how Russians tried to endure life under Stalin. Those who shaped the political system became, very frequently, its victims. Those who were its victims were frequently quite blameless. The Whisperers recreates the sort of maze in which Russians found themselves, where an unwitting wrong turn could either destroy a family or, perversely, later save it: a society in which everyone spoke in whispers - whether to protect themselves, their families, neighbours or friends - or to inform on them.

  • Published: 28 July 2008
  • ISBN: 9780141013510
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 784
  • RRP: $45.00

About the author

Orlando Figes

Orlando Figes is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London. Born in London in 1959, he was previously a Lecturer in History and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. A People’s Tragedy received the Wolfson Prize, the NCR Book Award, the W.H. Smith Literary Award, the Longman/History Today Book Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. He is the author of many other books on Russian history including Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia, The Whisperers: Private life in Stalin’s Russia, Crimea: the Last Crusade and Just Send Me Word: A True Story of Love and Survival in the Gulag.

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Praise for The Whisperers

Awesome … one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read. I defy anyone to read it without weeping at its human suffering, cruelty and courage … a celebration of family love in an epoch of hellish cruelty … now in this book these righteous heroes have their rightful memorial

Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday

Wonderful ... an amazing panoramic view ... I've rarely read anything like it

Claire Tomalin

Awesome ... one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read. I defy anyone to read it without weeping at its human suffering, cruelty and courage ... a celebration of family love in an epoch of hellish cruelty ... now in this book these righteous heroes have their rightful memorial

Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday

This is a heart-rending book ... its importance cannot be overestimated ... This book should be made compulsory reading in Russia today

Antony Beevor, author of, Stalingrad

A masterful account of lost and stolen lives

Sunday Times

Awesome … one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read. I defy anyone to read it without weeping at its human suffering, cruelty and courage … a celebration of family love in an epoch of hellish cruelty … now in this book these righteous heroes have their rightful memorial

Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday