The Gates of Europe - Serhii Plokhy - 9780141980614

'An indispensable guide to the tragic history of a great European nation' (Sunday Telegraph) from the author of Chernobyl, winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize

Located at the western edge of the Eurasian steppe, Ukraine has long been the meeting place of empires - Roman to Ottoman, Habsburg to Russian - and they all left their imprint on the landscape, the language and the people living within these shifting borders. In this authoritative book, Harvard Professor Serhii Plokhy traces the history of Ukraine from the arrival of the Vikings in the tenth century to the current Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. Fascinating and multilayered, The Gates of Europe is the essential guide to understanding not just Ukraine's past but also its future.

Reviews:

"Clear and elegant... an indispensable guide to the tragic history of a great European nation" - David Blair, Sunday Telegraph

"Admirable... In his elegant and careful exposition of Ukraine's past, Mr Plokhy has also provided some signposts to the future" - Economist

"An assured and authoritative survey that spans ancient Greek times to the present day" - Tony Barber, Financial Times

About the Author:

Serhii Plokhy is Professor of History at Harvard University and a leading authority on Eastern Europe. His books include Baillie Gifford winner Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy, Lost Kingdom, The Gates of Europe and The Last Empire.