Writing the Siege of Leningrad

Womens Diaries Memoirs and Documentary Prose

Häftad, Engelska, 2005

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From September 1941 until January 1944, Leningrad suffered under one of the worst sieges in the history of warfare. At least one million civilians died, many during the terribly cold first winter. Bearing the brunt of this hardship—and keeping the city alive through their daily toil and sacrifice—were the women of Leningrad. Yet their perspective on life during the siege has been little examined.Cynthia Simmons and Nina Perlina have searched archival holdings for letters and diaries written during the siege, conducted interviews with survivors, and collected poetry, fiction, and retrospective memoirs written by the blokadnitsy (women survivors) to present a truer picture of the city under siege. In simple, direct, even heartbreaking language, these documents tell of lost husbands, mothers, children; meager rations often supplemented with sawdust and other inedible additives; crime, cruelty, and even cannibalism. They also relate unexpected acts of kindness and generosity; attempts to maintain cultural life through musical and dramatic performances; and provide insight into a group of ordinary women reaching beyond differences in socioeconomic class, ethnicity, and profession in order to survive in extraordinary times.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2005-01-19
Mått156 x 235 x 22 mm
Vikt407 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
SerieRussian and East European Studies
Antal sidor288
FörlagUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
ISBN9780822958697

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Stands at the forefront of a new genre of historical literature that strips away the veneer of censorship and propaganda that so dominated historical works of the Soviet era to present a starker and more accurate portrait of Soviet life during World War II. This inspiring, often depressing, but intensely human portrait of suffering, deprivation, and survival stands as a monument to the resilience of the human spirit." —David M. Glantz, author of The Siege of Leningrad 1941-1944: 900 Days of Terror"Indispensable for all who take an interest in Russia, its literature, the history of the twentieth century, and women's studies." —Choice"As historian Richard Bidlack notes in his excellent introduction..., historical literature on the blockade has rarely attempted 'to define female perspectives on the siege and to trace those perspectives through a number of firsthand accounts.' [This] collection of diaries, memoirs, oral histories, and fiction, which focus on the 'small stories' of individual Leningrad women, seeks to fill this void." —Women's Review of Books"The Siege of Leningrad contains some of the darkest history of World War II. The German Army, unable to complete a direct assault on the city, resorted to a 900-day blockade during which approximately a million civilians died. Most of the men and boys were sacrificed to the war effort, leaving mainly women and children to endure the horrors of extreme deprivation caused by the blockade.... In winter, most citizens lived without heat as temperatures fell to 40 degrees below zero. Grass and leaves, along with glue and anything leather, were the staples of their diet, as all dogs and cats had long ago been eaten. Cannibalism saved many from starving. A very touching account of these women's remarkable accomplishments." —Library Journal