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Two Babushkas

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( 678 ratings, 73 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Two Babushkas by Masha Gessen is a compelling biography that delves into the intertwined lives of two grandmothers during Russia's tumultuous history. Gessen explores themes of resilience and identity as the grandmothers navigate the political and social upheavals of the 20th century. The memoir is a rich tapestry of personal and historical narratives, capturing the essence of survival and change.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in a deeply personal exploration of Russian history through the lives of two strong-willed grandmothers. Masha Gessen weaves a captivating narrative that not only reveals the resilience of these women but also offers insight into the cultural and political landscape of Russia throughout the 20th century.

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This is a story of 20th-century Russia through the lives of two extraordinary women.

For fans of Wild Swans Hardback garnered amazing reviews

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Masha Gessen's last memory of Russia was the crowd of red-eyed relatives gathered at the airport in Moscow in 1981 to wave goodbye forever to her fourteen-year-old self, her brother and her parents. Unwilling to have their children grow up bearing the weight of the same anti-Semitism that they and their parents had, Masha's mother and father were emigrating to America. But Russia was Masha's home, and ten years later she returned to a changed country, and to her two grandmothers.

With intelligence and humour, Masha Gessen unfolds the tale of these two women: both Eastern European Jews who lived through Polish and Russian anti-Semitism, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the Stalin years and who bore unceasing intimidation and fear in very different ways but with similar courage, resourcefulness, and sheer chutzpah.

Two Babushkas offers a deeply personal narrative, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring power of family ties against a backdrop of historical upheaval.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reviews praise Two Babushkas for its exceptional storytelling, capturing the lives of two Russian-Jewish women with wit, colour, and poignancy. The book is celebrated for its vivid sense of time and place and the insightful exploration of themes like compromise and survival. Critics commend its thought-provoking nature and engaging narrative, suggesting it deserves recognition for its literary qualities.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780747570806

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 May 2005

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Edition: New edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Masha Gessen is the Russian correspondent for US World and News Report. She has been a contributor to Granta and is the author of Dead Again: The Russian Intelligentsia after Communism. She lives in Moscow.

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