'People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.'
John Adams


When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the world witnessed the 'creative, freewheeling, darkly humorous, and deeply resilient society' of a contemporary Ukraine, and discovered more about a country with a history that is 'exceptionally rich in examples of survival, solidarity and resilience.'

In this timely and original history, a bestseller in Ukraine, the historian Yaroslav Hrytsak tells the sweeping story of his nation through a meticulous examination of the major events, conflicts, and developments that have shaped it over the course of centuries.

This book is the definitive story of Ukraine and its people, as told by one of its most celebrated voices.