A Small, Stubborn Town
Published on 20. March 2024
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-68481-518-0 (ISBN)
Description
How the Defiant Residents of a Sleepy Ukraine Town Routed an Invading Russian Battalion Changing the Course of the War"A story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people." ?James Meek
It was one of the most significant battles early in the Ukraine-Russia war?a ferocious two-day struggle for control of the farming town of Voznesensk and its strategically important Dead Water Bridge.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of southern Ukraine. Their destination, Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war. The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight?or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals have other ideas. Ukrainian troops, supported by an eclectic army of local volunteers, deliver a crushing blow to Russian plans.
A gripping chronicle by esteemed BBC correspondent Andrew Harding. In his book, British journalist Andrew Harding unfolds a microcosm of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, painting a raw, palpable picture of resilience, ingenuity, and unfettered defiance. Harding, a seasoned BBC correspondent, takes you on an extraordinary journey, navigating the landscapes of war-torn Ukraine with astute professionalism and an incisive eye for detail. Drawing from his first-hand experience and intimate reporting, he crafts a narrative that resonates with heroism, humor, and a deep sense of humanity.
Inside find:
A detailed account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Personal stories of resilience and defiance from ordinary people in Voznesensk
Insightful reporting from Andrew Harding, a trusted BBC correspondent
If you liked books on the war in Ukraine such as War and Punishment, The Russo-Ukrainian War, The War Came To Us, Invasion, or Overreach, you will love Andrew Harding's A Small, Stubborn Town.
It was one of the most significant battles early in the Ukraine-Russia war?a ferocious two-day struggle for control of the farming town of Voznesensk and its strategically important Dead Water Bridge.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of southern Ukraine. Their destination, Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war. The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight?or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals have other ideas. Ukrainian troops, supported by an eclectic army of local volunteers, deliver a crushing blow to Russian plans.
A gripping chronicle by esteemed BBC correspondent Andrew Harding. In his book, British journalist Andrew Harding unfolds a microcosm of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, painting a raw, palpable picture of resilience, ingenuity, and unfettered defiance. Harding, a seasoned BBC correspondent, takes you on an extraordinary journey, navigating the landscapes of war-torn Ukraine with astute professionalism and an incisive eye for detail. Drawing from his first-hand experience and intimate reporting, he crafts a narrative that resonates with heroism, humor, and a deep sense of humanity.
Inside find:
A detailed account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Personal stories of resilience and defiance from ordinary people in Voznesensk
Insightful reporting from Andrew Harding, a trusted BBC correspondent
If you liked books on the war in Ukraine such as War and Punishment, The Russo-Ukrainian War, The War Came To Us, Invasion, or Overreach, you will love Andrew Harding's A Small, Stubborn Town.
Reviews / Votes
"Extraordinary; filled with a deep sense of enduring humanity. Immensely powerful, timely, and real."-Philippe Sands, author of East West Street
"It would be wonderful if the story told in this beautiful little book were the author's invention. But alas, the story itself is pure truth. Andrew Harding's characters invite the reader into their daily struggle which we witness with awe and empathy. We are touched by their courage and dignity-qualities that the author must surely have possessed in equal measure to record these extraordinary events."
-Andrey Kurkov
"[A] remarkable story... propulsive."
-The Irish Times
"A piercing book: the story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people, and an accessible, limpid account of what battle is actually like."
-James Meek
"The story of Ukraine in perfect microcosm-ordinary people doing absolutely extraordinary things-beautifully told."
-Christina Lamb
"A short, brilliant book on the battle for Voznesensk. Harding captures the mixture of courage, bewilderment and mania of Ukrainians who decide to fight the invasion."
-Gideon Rachman, Financial Times
"Harding has told a mesmerising story of how, in the face of a mighty army, ordinary people can sometimes turn and simply say, 'No.'"
-Sinclair McKay, Mail on Sunday
"Elegantly told...a deceptively simple narrative that explains a great deal about the dynamics of this war and many others."
-Roger Boyes, The Times
"Fascinating, vivid, often harrowing, and deeply moving. A must-read for anyone trying to grasp both the human dimension and larger dynamics of this brutal contemporary war."
-Fiona Hill, author of There Is Nothing for You Here
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
FL
United States
Illustrations
Not illustrated
ISBN-13
978-1-68481-518-0 (9781684815180)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2024
Mango Media
€14.97
Available for download
Person
Andrew Harding is the BBC Africa Correspondent, based in Johannesburg. He is the author of These Are Not Gentle People, a true-crime novel set in South Africa and published in South Africa, the UK, and the Netherlands. (The book has been turned into a BBC Radio 4 series and podcast, "Blood Lands.") Alexander McCall Smith described the book as "a masterpiece." Philippe Sands called it "utterly gripping, timely and shocking. "This is In Cold Blood meets Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil. Believe me, Andrew Harding has given us an instant classic," said Justice Malala.
Andrew Harding also wrote the internationally acclaimed non-fiction book, The Mayor of Mogadishu - the tale of a nomad, turned street brawler, turned refugee who left his family in London to return to take charge of the war-ravaged ruins of Somalia's capital. It was praised by the New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post and chosen as one of NPR's books of 2016.
Harding has been a foreign correspondent since 1991 when he moved to the crumbling Soviet Union as a freelancer. He lived and worked abroad ever since, in Moscow, Tbilisi, Nairobi, Singapore, Bangkok, and for the past 12 years, in Johannesburg. He is married with 3 sons. Harding began working for a variety of outlets including The Guardian and The Economist, but since 1994, has been a BBC foreign correspondent.
Harding is not keen on the phrase "war correspondent" but seems to have spent an awful lot of the past 25 years covering conflicts, from the parliamentary rebellion in Moscow in 1993, to Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Burma, Sudan, DR Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote D'Ivoire, CAR, Burundi, Uganda, Libya and elsewhere. He won an Emmy for his reporting from CAR, along with many other international awards.
Andrew Harding also wrote the internationally acclaimed non-fiction book, The Mayor of Mogadishu - the tale of a nomad, turned street brawler, turned refugee who left his family in London to return to take charge of the war-ravaged ruins of Somalia's capital. It was praised by the New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post and chosen as one of NPR's books of 2016.
Harding has been a foreign correspondent since 1991 when he moved to the crumbling Soviet Union as a freelancer. He lived and worked abroad ever since, in Moscow, Tbilisi, Nairobi, Singapore, Bangkok, and for the past 12 years, in Johannesburg. He is married with 3 sons. Harding began working for a variety of outlets including The Guardian and The Economist, but since 1994, has been a BBC foreign correspondent.
Harding is not keen on the phrase "war correspondent" but seems to have spent an awful lot of the past 25 years covering conflicts, from the parliamentary rebellion in Moscow in 1993, to Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Burma, Sudan, DR Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote D'Ivoire, CAR, Burundi, Uganda, Libya and elsewhere. He won an Emmy for his reporting from CAR, along with many other international awards.