Russia and Ukraine have been in the news a lot over the last six months which means this list of books about Russia and Ukraine is great for those wanting to learn more about the part of the world that has been making headlines.
Readers love to learn and people that love to learn new things usually love to read.
This list of books is because I wanted to learn more about the part of the world that is currently making headlines.
The history of Russia and Ukraine has been long and complicated. The struggle for Ukraine and the people of Ukraine is not a new one. It has been going on for generations.
Over the last few months, I have read quite a few books on the history of Russia and Ukraine.
Some were set over a hundred years ago and some were set in more modern times. Some of the books I read were nonfiction and some were fiction.
All of them have been fascinating reads that have taught me about a place I knew very little about.
Since I know I am not the only one wanting to learn more about this part of the world I put together a list of books set in or about Russia and Ukraine.
It is almost impossible to list all the books that have been written about or that are set in Russia and Ukraine, so we are not even going to try that. Instead, our list includes books that we have read and at the end of the list, we include a few that are on our to-be-read list to read soon.
Nonfiction Books Set In Russia and Ukraine
These are all books that Grace and I have read. Several of them are ones that I have read in the last few months.
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre is a book about spies, double agents, the KGB, MI6, and the CIA during the Cold War. This book contains a lot of details about Russia during the Cold War.
Red Notice by Bill Browder is a fascinating true crime high finance read. It is a hard to believe it happened, true story about finance and laws in Russia.
Midnight In Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham. In 1986 there was an explosion at the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station, in the U.S.S.R. It caused the worst nuclear accident in history. Chernobyl was in the U.S.S.R, but Ukraine gained independence in 1991, making Chernobyl part of Ukraine. The story of Chernobyl is very much part of both Russian history and Ukrainian history.
The Girl From the Metropol Hotel by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya is the author’s story of growing up in Communist Russia. Ludmilla was born in 1938, in Moscow, across from the Kremlin, in the Metropol Hotel. Ludmilla’s story shares a look at what it was like to grow up in extreme poverty under communism. My husband and I listened to this on audio, on a road trip, a few years ago, and we found it a fascinating and sad look at Russian life.
Beyond The Call by Lee Trimble was one of Grace’s favorite books in 2019. I had never heard about Captain Trimble or the POWs who were struggling to get away from both the Germans and the Russians. The Russians were not kind to POWs because they viewed them as cowards. This is the story of Captain Trimble rescueing those POWs, who were left on the Eastern Front after WWII.
Dancing Under the Red Star by Karl Tobien is the story of Margaret whose family moved to Gorky, Russia, when her dad and other Ford employees, were sent by Henry Ford, to operate a new manufacturing facility. Carl and Elisabeth Werner and their daughter, Margaret lived in Russia under the dictator Stalin. Carl was arrested and Margaret and her mother were left to live under severe hardship, poverty, and oppression. A fascinating and sad read about life under Stalin and a little known story of families from Detroit who were transplanted to Russia.
Fiction Books Set In Ukraine and Russia
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan is a book about courage, endurance, determination, and strength amidst war and unimaginable tragedy. If you want to know part of the history of Ukraine and Russia that will help you understand current events, this is a must read historical fiction book. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is based on the true story of a women sniper during WWII. It is set during Hitler’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia. This was an impulse buy that was perfect timing because of how much it relates to current events.
A Train To Moscow by Elena Gorokhova is about Russian life after WW2, during the final years of Stalin, and after Stalin died. This book is about an actress, her life, and her family so it is a little bit of a different look into Russian life. However, the author grew up in Russia, so it is written by someone who truly knows what it was like to live in Russia.
The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart is set in the modern day and in 1917 Russian. This book takes you to the House of Faberge in 1917 and the famous Faberge Eggs that were made. The modern timeline follows a hunt for one of the lost Faberge Eggs. I knew very little about The Faberge Eggs, so this was an interesting read.
To Be Read List
Now for a few books about Ukraine and Russia that are on our to-be-read list. We don’t usually include books on our list that we haven’t read, but both Grace and I have quite a few books on our to be read list about Russia and Ukraine, so we decided to include them here. Since we have not read them, we can’t give a review, but they do look interesting, which is why they are on our list to read.
Lynn’s To Be Read List
A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova is the memoir of Elena Gorokhova, the author of a Train To Moscow listed above. I am about halfway through this one and am really enjoying it. It is a memoir of life in Russia, so it is not an easy read, but so far it is a good read.
The Gates of Hell by Matthew Heise is a nonfiction Christian book about life in Russia for German-Russian Lutherans during the period between WWI and WWII. I love to read Christian biographies and missionary stories, so when I read about this book I instantly bought it. I can’t wait to read it.
Freezing Order by Bill Browder is by the same author of Red Notice listed above. I enjoyed Red Notice so much that bought this as soon as it was released. The cover says A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimar Putin’s Wrath. I can’t wait to read this true crime story.
Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles is one that I am not sure will share a lot of Russian history, but it is set in Moscow in the famous Metropol Hotel. This one has been in my to be read stack since it got so much attention when it first came out. I am hoping to pick it up this fall to read.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is a young adult book that has been in my to-be-read stack for several years. I need to move it to the top. It is about a Lithuanian girl, whose father is sent to prison, while her mother, brother, and she are sent to a Siberian work camp.
Grace’s To Be Read List
The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich is on Grace’s to be read stack, but I also think it sounds like a great read. It chronicles the lives of Soviet women who fought on the frontlines during WWII.
Have you read any books about or set in Russia or Urkraine?
Over a year after you published this list, thank you for it! I am planning my reading for 2024. I am hoping to read a few books set in Russia, so this is helpful for me.
I am glad that you found the list of Russia and Ukraine books helpful. I have a few more in my to be read stack, so hopefully I will get the list updated after I read them.