Boys in Zinc

Name: Boys in Zinc
Brand: Penguin Books Ltd
SKU: 9780241264119
Price: 30.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Svetlana Alexievich

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

Summary

Boys in Zinc by Svetlana Alexievich delves into the harrowing memories of Soviet soldiers who fought in the Afghan War. Through first-person narratives, it captures the psychological and emotional toll of war, providing raw insights into soldiers' realities and the profound impact on their families and society. The book paints a vivid picture of the complex human experiences behind historical events.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$30⁰⁰

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Boys in Zinc

$30⁰⁰

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 are interested in poignant, real-life accounts of war and its profound impact on individuals. Svetlana Alexievich offers a compelling narrative that delves into the experiences of soldiers and families during the Soviet-Afghan War, combining personal testimonies and history to create a deeply moving exploration of the human side of military conflict.

Boys in Zinc

Description

Mesmerising, haunting stories from the Soviet-Afghan War collected by the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

From 1979 to 1989, Soviet troops engaged in a devastating war in Afghanistan that claimed thousands of casualties on both sides. While the Soviet Union talked about a 'peace-keeping' mission, the dead were shipped back in sealed zinc coffins. Boys in Zinc presents the honest testimonies of soldiers, doctors and nurses, mothers, wives, and siblings who describe the lasting effects of war.

Weaving together their stories, Svetlana Alexievich shows us the truth of the Soviet-Afghan conflict—the killing and the beauty of small everyday moments, the shame of returning veterans, and the worries of all those left behind. When it was first published in the USSR in 1991, Boys in Zinc sparked huge controversy because of its unflinching, harrowing insight into the realities of war.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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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?

Boys in Zinc by Svetlana Alexievich has been praised for its impactful storytelling, with reviewers noting its superb translation and the author's focus on truth as a central theme in contemporary politics. The book is described as a powerful polyphonic work that shines light on the complexities of war and post-Soviet Russia. Alexievich's reportage style is celebrated for giving voice to the voiceless, crafting intimate and raw historical narratives. Her approach has been compared to listening to a confessional, and her contribution to literature has been recognised with a Nobel Prize.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241264119

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 March 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

Translated by Andrew Bromfield
Translated by Andrew Bromfield

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 228g

Pages: 304

Collections

Asian History Biography & Memoir History & Military Military History Non-Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics Svetlana Alexievich

About the Author

Svetlana Alexievich (Author) Svetlana Alexievich was born in Ivano-Frankivsk in 1948 and has spent most of her life in the Soviet Union and present-day Belarus, with prolonged periods of exile in Western Europe. Starting out as a journalist, she developed her own, distinctive non-fiction genre which brings together a chorus of voices to describe a specific historical moment. Her works include The Unwomanly Face of War (1985), Last Witnesses (1985), Boys in Zinc (1991), Chernobyl Prayer (1997) and Second-Hand Time (2013). She has won many international awards, including the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature for 'her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time'.