Red Famine

More about the book

Applebaum's account is poised to become the definitive treatment of a significant political atrocity, vividly re-creating a pastoral world to illustrate its destruction. She argues that the deliberate starvation of Ukrainian peasants was part of a broader Soviet policy against the Ukrainian nation. Understanding this history is essential for contemporary Russians as they grapple with their past. Lucid and powerful, her argument that Stalin targeted Ukraine for special punishment is compelling. The narrative chronicles the devastation inflicted upon Ukraine by Stalin and his regime, built on suspicion and fear. By incorporating contemporary voices, the book resonates with current events, reminding readers that history offers both hope and tragedy. It serves as a heartbreaking history of Stalin's Ukrainian famine, illustrating how starvation was weaponized in the Sovietization of Ukraine. Applebaum’s work reveals the horrific consequences of a regime at war with its own people. Her relentless and shocking narrative solidifies her reputation as a leading historian of Soviet crimes, providing a crucial backstory for understanding present-day relations between Russia and Ukraine. This authoritative history is a vital resource for grasping the complexities of national strife.