Overview

Making his way from the Polish border in the west, through the capital city and the heart of the 2014 revolution, to the eastern frontline near the Russian border, seasoned war reporter Tim Judah brings a rare glimpse of the reality behind the headlines. An urgent, insightful account of the human side of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by seasoned war reporter Tim Judah Making his way from the Polish border in the west, through the capital city and the heart of the 2014 revolution, to the eastern frontline near the Russian border, Tim Judah brings a rare glimpse of the reality behind the headlines. Along the way he talks to the people living through the conflict - mothers, soldiers, businessmen, poets, politicians - whose memories of a contested past shape their attitudes, allegiances and hopes for the future. Together, their stories paint a vivid picture of what the second largest country in Europe feels like in wartime- a nation trapped between powerful forces, both political and historical. 'Visceral, gripping, heartbreaking' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Haunting . . . timely . . . Interviewing a wide range of people who have been caught up in the recent conflict, Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost' Alexander Larman, Observer 'Comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski' Roger Boyes, The Times 'A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now' Marcus Tanner, Independent

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9780141981086

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Reviews

A compelling and acute piece of contemporary reportage. David Edgar, TheLondon Review of Books Haunting . . . Timely . . . Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost of manoeuvres in Ukraine. He seldom makes his own thoughts and opinions seem intrusive, instead letting his eloquent and compassionate subjects give a far greater insight into the horror and privation. Alexander Larman, TheObserver The war in Ukraine was fought at the height of postmodernity, and at first images trumpedwords and propaganda overwhelmed reality. Yet with time it was a few journalists, the handful of womenand men who were willing to travel, learn, and report, who transformed the two dimensions of the screeninto the three of life, the cliches of governments into the faces of people. Tim Judah, one of the best of them, does not tell us what to think about war but instead teaches us how: with courage, humility, attention to humandetail, and admirable historical intuition. Timothy Snyder The strength of Judah's In Wartime lies in the depth, range and balance of his reportage and his eye for telling details. Tony Barber, Financial Times A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah Looks at the present what Ukraine looks and feels like now. He criss-crosses the country from the Russian-speaking east to the Ukrainian-speaking west. Marcus Tanner, TheIndependent Visceral, gripping, heart breakingand often shocking, based on interviewswith witnesses and victimson the ground, In Wartime isboth astute political analysis and vivid warreportage ofwhat sreally happening in the dirty warinUkraine by a veteran observer of the Balkan wars who trulyunderstands the complexities and nuances of the warson Europe's peripheries. Simon Sebag Montefiore Tim Judah has written a timely account of life in Ukraine . . . A vivid, human portrait of a society drained not just by war but by years of corruption. Annabelle Chapman, Prospect Judah has carved out a reputation as one of Europe's best writers on the Balkans. His job description should be something like History Wars Correspondent. Roger Boyes, The Times Tim Judah has got a lot closer to the war in eastern Ukraine than most western reporters close enough to be able to convey vividly to readers the smells and sounds of such strange, screwed-up oddities as the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian-backed splinter state. His experience of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s helped Judah spot this war as it mutated from malignant propaganda into blood-spattered reality. As a reporter, he excels at letting the Ukrainians themselves do the talking. His own sardonic undertone perfectly suits his subject. Niall Ferguson

Haunting ... timely ... Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost of manoeuvres in Ukraine. He seldom makes his own thoughts and opinions seem intrusive, instead letting his eloquent and compassionate subjects give a far greater insight into the horror and privations -- Alexander Larman Observer Tim Judah has got a lot closer to the war in eastern Ukraine than most western reporters - close enough to be able to convey vividly to readers the smells and sounds ... His experience of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s helped Judah spot this war as it mutated from malignant propaganda into blood-spattered reality. As a reporter, he excels at letting the Ukrainians themselves do the talking. -- Niall Ferguson The strength of Judah's In Wartime lies in the depth, range and balance of his reportage and his eye for telling details. -- Tony Barber Financial Times Tim Judah ... does not tell us what to think about war but instead teaches us how: with courage, humility, attention to human detail, and admirable historical intuition. -- Timothy Snyder Visceral, gripping, heart-breaking and often shocking, based on interviews with witnesses and victims on the ground, In Wartime is both astute political analysis and vivid war reportage of what's really happening in the dirty war in Ukraine by a veteran observer of the Balkan wars who truly understands the complexities and nuances -- Simon Sebag Montefiore A compelling and acute piece of contemporary reportage -- David Edgar London Review of Books Judah has carved out a reputation as one of Europe's best writers on the Balkans. His job description should be something like History Wars Correspondent ... comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski -- Roger Boyes Times A kaleidoscopic portrait ... Judah Looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now. He criss-crosses the country from the Russian-speaking east to the Ukrainian-speaking west. -- Marcus Tanner Independent A timely account ... a vivid human portrait -- Annabelle Chapman Prospect Essential for anyone who wants to understand events in Ukraine and what they portend for the West... Mr. Judah has written the first important book about the war in Ukraine, and it should be on the shelf of every diplomat and journalist shipping out to the region Wall Street Journal The historical analysis in In Wartime: Stories From Ukraine is deep, fastidious and detailed. Judah articulately and comprehensively explains what happened in the region during World War II, and the important connection between history and present-day violence... rich and beautiful... an impartial account of the situation today that depicts people from all sides of the conflict in a fair and respectful way. Additionally, In Wartime brilliantly explains the significance of the past, covering in detail World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. Chicago Tribune A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach Publishers Weekly A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach Foreign Affairs Judah's book is full of detailed reporting from both Western and Eastern Ukraine-he covered the conflict with Russia for The New York Review of Books-and although he sympathizes with the attempts to strengthen the government in Kiev and repel Russian aggression, his book offers a nuanced portrait of people on all sides of the conflict. -- Isaac Chotiner Slate Vividly clear... A portrait of what it's like living during wartime... Judah gives a very helpful overview of Ukraine's systematic economic difficulties... Brave, thoughtful, self-effacing, and effective. -- William T. Vollmann Bookforum An important new book... fast-paced and very topical... Judah's expertise is appealingly ambitious in its scope... Readers won't forget the pathos and violence Tim Judah has described, and they owe him a vote of thanks for that. Christian Science Monitor

A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine . . . . . Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage . . . . This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach. <b><i>Publishers Weekly</i> (Starred Review)</b> A compelling and acute piece of contemporary reportage. <b> David Edgar, <i>TheLondon Review of Books</i></b> Haunting . . . Timely . . . Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost of manoeuvres in Ukraine. He seldom makes his own thoughts and opinions seem intrusive, instead letting his eloquent and compassionate subjects give a far greater insight into the horror and privation. <b> Alexander Larman, <i>TheObserver</i></b> The war in Ukraine was fought at the height of postmodernity, and at first images trumpedwords and propaganda overwhelmed reality. Yet with time it was a few journalists, the handful of womenand men who were willing to travel, learn, and report, who transformed the two dimensions of the screeninto the three of life, the cliches of governments into the faces of people. Tim Judah, one of the best of them, does not tell us what to think about war but instead teaches us how: with courage, humility, attention to humandetail, and admirable historical intuition. <b> Timothy Snyder</b> The strength of Judah's <i>In Wartime</i> lies in the depth, range and balance of his reportage and his eye for telling details. <b> Tony Barber, <i>Financial Times</i></b> A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah Looks at the present<b> </b>what Ukraine looks and feels like now. He criss-crosses the country from the Russian-speaking east to the Ukrainian-speaking west. <b> Marcus Tanner, <i>TheIndependent </i></b> Visceral, gripping, heart breakingand often shocking, based on interviewswith witnesses and victimson the ground, <i>In Wartime</i>isboth astute political analysis and vivid warreportage ofwhat sreally happening in the dirty warinUkraine by a veteran observer of the Balkan wars who trulyunderstands the complexities and nuances of the warson Europe's peripheries. <b> Simon Sebag Montefiore</b> Tim Judah has written a timely account of life in Ukraine . . . A vivid, human portrait of a society drained not just by war but by years of corruption. <b> Annabelle Chapman, <i>Prospect</i></b><b><i></b> Judah has carved out a reputation as one of Europe's best writers on the Balkans. His job description should be something like History Wars Correspondent. <b><i><b> Roger Boyes, <i>The Times</i></b> </b> Tim Judah has got a lot closer to the war in eastern Ukraine than most western reporters close enough to be able to convey vividly to readers the smells and sounds of such strange, screwed-up oddities as the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian-backed splinter state. His experience of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s helped Judah spot this war as it mutated from malignant propaganda into blood-spattered reality. As a reporter, he excels at letting the Ukrainians themselves do the talking. His own sardonic undertone perfectly suits his subject. <b> Niall Ferguson</b> <i>From the Hardcover edition.</i>

Author Information

Tim Judah has reported on the war in Ukraine for the New York Review of Books and for the Economist, where he is also Balkans correspondent. During his career as a journalist, he has covered many countries and conflicts including the aftermath of communism in Eastern Europe, the Balkan Wars, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, Darfur, Haiti and Uganda. He is the author of Kosovo- War and Revenge The Serbs- History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslaviaand Bikila- Ethiopia's Barefoot Olympian.

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