Last Witnesses Svetlana Alexievich

Last Witnesses: An Oral History of the Children of World War II

by Svetlana Alexievich | Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

A Symphony of Hidden Histories

For more than three decades, Svetlana Alexievich has served as the memory and conscience of the twentieth century. In Last Witnesses, she brings together dozens of voices in her distinctive, polyphonic style to preserve the memories of those who were children in Russia during World War II.

These testimonies reveal a generation that grew up with the trauma of combat deeply embedded in their formative years—a trauma that fundamentally changed the course of the Russian nation. These individuals were sometimes child soldiers, and always witnesses. Collectively, their stories are filled with the everyday details of life during wartime, offering an unprecedented, ground-level view of the central conflict of the twentieth century.

Translated masterfully by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, this work excavates demolished lives and gives prominence to those whose experiences have historically been lost within official state narratives. When awarding Alexievich the Nobel Prize, the Swedish Academy cited her for inventing "a new kind of literary genre," describing her monumental body of work as "a history of emotions... a history of the soul."

Critical Acclaim

• "There is a special sort of clear-eyed humility to [Alexievich’s] reporting." — The Guardian
• "A bracing reminder of the enduring power of the written word to testify to pain like no other medium. . . . They are the first and last witnesses." — The New Republic
• "It is impossible not to think differently about children caught in conflict." — The Washington Post

Who Readers Will Love This

• History & Academic Scholars: Essential primary source material for understanding the Eastern Front and Soviet civilian experiences.
• Literary Journalism Enthusiasts: A masterclass in narrative non-fiction and oral history methodology.
• Sociology Students: Deep insights into the psychological impact of war on child development and national memory.

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