Why read Within the Whirlwind?

Book cover of Within the Whirlwind

Book description

This book continues the narrative of Ginzburg's nightmarish eighteen-year survival of Soviet prisons and labor camps, following the Stalinist purges of 1937. Introduction by Heinrich Böll. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

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Why read it?

1 author picked Within the Whirlwind as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lanier Scott Isom

Author

I will never forget the first time I read Within the Whirlwind by Eugenia Ginzburg when I was in college, a memoir of Ginzburg’s ten-year survival of Soviet prisons and labor camps after the Stalinist purges of 1937.

I was stunned by the inhumanity of what happened to her and others and equally stunned about how easily mass executions can happen in civilized society. I was awakened to how quickly evil men can grab power and destroy lives.

From Lanier's list on The best books featuring strong women who determine their own destiny during trying times.