The Unwomanly Face of War cover art

The Unwomanly Face of War

Penguin Modern Classics

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Unwomanly Face of War

By: Svetlana Alexievich, Larissa Volokhonsky - translator, Richard Pevear - translator
Narrated by: Yelena Shmulenson, Julia Emelin
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexeivich, read by Julia Emelin and Yelena Shmulenson.

Bringing together dozens of voices in her distinctive style, The Unwomanly Face of War is Svetlana Alexievich's collection of stories from Soviet women who lived through the Second World War: on the front lines, on the home front and in occupied territories. As Alexievich gives voice to women who are absent from official narratives - captains, sergeants, nurses, snipers and pilots - she shows us a new version of the war we're so familiar with, creating an extraordinary alternative history from their private stories.

Published in 1985 in Russia and now available in English for the first time, The Unwomanly Face of War was Alexievich's first book and a huge best seller in the Soviet Union, establishing her as a brilliantly revolutionary writer.

©2017 Svetlana Alexievich (P)2017 Penguin Audio Military Women War Soviet Union Russia
All stars
Most relevant
I thought this book was very moving. I very much enjoyed listen to the stories of the women and what they went through in the war. it was and very humble story telling. I thought the start of the book was a bit slow but once you got into it it was good listening.

incredibly moving records of history

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Not an easy listen, but fascinating, heartfelt, and tragic. moments of humour, but mostly of thankless sacrifice, followed by betrayal by the state, and those who stayed home.

A compelling but traumatic experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A harrowing account of the contribution made by Russian Women in WWII. A collection of first hand accounts and experiences from frontline nurses, foot soldiers, snipers, flying aces and others. All heroic, All prepared to make selfless sacrifices during the hardest of times and while maintaining their identity of themselves and their country. Courageous women. They deserve respect. Well produced, well written and easy to follow.

Graphic, Disturbing, Fascinating!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great book on its own, but the fact that it is oral history makes the audiobook the best format to experience it.

The perfect format for it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved every minute. It was a really good presentation to use different voices for each interviewee. It appears to explain so much about Russian, or Soviet, fortitude. I was brought up with stories of rationing and the blitz but the hardship of Nazi occupation on the eastern front must have been a living hell.

Amazingly brutal and touching

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.