Books Set in Eastern Europe & Russia

by Kalani Pickhart

Setting: Ukraine

This fictional book follows four people through a Ukrainian winter in 2014. In November 2013, there was a large protest in Kyiv about then-President Yanukovych’s decision to align Ukraine with Russia and Vladimir Putin instead of the European Union.

The protest was peaceful until the government used live ammunition against the protestors, killing over 100 Ukrainian citizens. The four characters' lives are all impacted by these events, and eventually, their lives are intertwined.

The Book Girls Say...Readers say that of all the books set in Ukraine, this one will give you the best insight into some of the precursors to the current situation in Ukraine with Russia.

by Janet Skeslien Charles

Setting: UKRAINE

Daria is a young engineer from Odesa, Ukraine, but in the post-Communist economy of Ukraine, she ends up taking a job as a secretary for a foreign shopping firm.

Fearful for her job security after she refuses the unwanted advances from her boss, Daria begins to moonlight as an interpreter at a matchmaking agency that connects lonely American bachelors with eligible (and desperate) Ukrainian women.

Daria's grandmother wants her to leave Ukraine for good and pushes her to marry one of the men she meets, but Daria already has feelings for a local. So she must choose between a Ukraine she loves despite its flaws and an unknown life in America, while also choosing between a complicated local man and an American bachelor twice her age.

The Book Girls Say... This book is light and humorous on the surface, but it's also filled with emotional complexities. While a portion of the book also takes place in the US, it dives deep into Ukrainian culture. The rich descriptions will make you feel like you're in Odesa, Ukraine, alongside Daria.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Mark T. Sullivan

Setting: UKRAINE

In 1944, Ukrainians faced invaders on multiple fronts as Hilter and Stalin had both pushed into their country. The Last Green Valley tells the story of one family with a common dilemma in their region. The Martel's had a strong German heritage, but their families had been farming in Ukraine for more than a century.

Like many others, they had a choice. Do they trust that their German blood will protect them and go with the German troops despite not agreeing with the Third Reich agenda? Or stay and risk being sent to Siberian work-camps by Russia?

The Book Girls Say...While this book is historical fiction, it is heavily researched. Don't miss the author's notes at the end, which share more details on which book sections are highly accurate. It's on the longer side at 458 pages, and some reviewers say that it moves slowly in some areas, but also that it will help you understand a whole new facet of WW2.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of Feb 16, 2022.

by Adam Higginbotham

Setting: UKRAINE & RUSSIA

On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station exploded in the early morning hours, triggering one of the twentieth century's most significant disasters. In addition to causing widespread radiation poisoning, Chernobyl was also a key event in the destruction of the Soviet Union and the United States' victory in the Cold War.

Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews conducted over more than ten years, as well as letters, unpublished memoirs, and documents from recently-declassified archives, Higginbotham provides a robust investigation into Chernobyl. You'll learn how propaganda, secrecy, and myth have obscured the true story of one of history's worst nuclear disasters.

The Book Girls Say... This work of non-fiction is written by a journalist and includes lots of technical details, but overall it reads more like a movie script. It was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2019.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Ruta Sepetys

Setting: ROMANIA

In 1989, Communist regimes were falling throughout Eastern Europe, but Romania was still under the control of a tyrant - Nicolae Ceaușescu. Seventeen-year-old Cristian wants to be a writer, but writing freely is not possible in his world.

When Cristian is forced to be an informer for the secret police, he must decide if he's willing to betray those he loves or if he can somehow use the terrible situation to help take down Ceaușescu.

The Book Girls Say...Ruta Sepetys has a gift for telling untold stories in compelling, relatable ways. We can wait to read this new release!

by Julie Orringer

Setting: HUNGARY

In 1937, Andras, a young Hungarian-Jewish architecture student, departs Budapest. He is bound for Paris with a scholarship, one suitcase, a mysterious letter he promised to deliver. Soon he will find himself falling deeply in love with Klara - the letter's recipient. But Klara has doubts, and she isn't very open about her past.

As the Third Reich rises to power, Andres and Klara leave Paris and seek safety back home in Hungary. Eventually, Andras will discover a secret that will alter the course of his life and his family's history. 

This book will take you from the grand opera houses of Budapest and Paris to the small Hungarian town of Konyár, and from the Carpathian Mountains to the Hungarian labor camps.

The Book Girls Say... If you're looking for a quick read, keep looking. This one comes in at more than 750 pages. But if you want a historical fiction novel that sheds light on lesser-known aspects of WWII and is filled with romance and beautifully developed characters, grab a cozy blanket and crack this one open.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Sharon Cameron

Setting: POLAND

This YA historical fiction is based on the true story of Stefania Podgorska. This heroic 16-year-old worked for a Jewish family in their grocery store until German soldiers arrived in town. The family is forced to the ghetto, and Stefania, who is Catholic, is left in the abandoned town and must care for her 6-year-old sister alone.

When one of her employer's sons jumps from a train headed for a WWII death camp, he shows up at Stefania's home. She agrees to hide him and eventually twelve other Jewish members of her town. However, when the enemy knocks on the door to billet in her home, she has to make some serious decisions.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Beatriz Williams

Setting: RUSSIA

Inspired by the true story of the Cambridge Five, Woman in Moscow takes you into the height of the Cold War in 1952. Four years earlier, Iris and her family disappeared from their London home, captivating the world. Her husband is an American diplomat, and the strange disappearance captured the world's attention.

Finally, in 1952, her twin sister Ruth is shocked to get a message from Iris. Within days, there's a plan in place for Ruth to go to Moscow posing as the wife of a counterintelligence agent. Will the plan work to free the family?

by Kelly Rimmer

Setting: POLAND

Inspired by the author's own family history, this historical fiction novel tells a tragic love story. Alina and Tomasz were best friends who planned to marry. But when their Polish village falls to the Germans, Alina doesn't know if Tomasz is alive or dead.

Decades later, Alice struggles to support her son, who was born with an autism spectrum disorder. When her grandmother is hospitalized, she begs Alice to return to Poland to see what becomes of those she loved. Alice travels to Poland and begins to uncover her grandmother's story.

The Book Girls Say… We both really enjoyed this unique look into WWII. It's not a light read, but it's still a great escape to look at what generations before us endured on a personal level. The split storyline between current times and the war gives a nice reprieve from the harder 1940s scenes.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
98% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Roxanne Veletzos

Setting: HUNGARY

Wealthy aristocrat Eva is engaged to a doctor and spending her last single summer at her family's estate in Sopron. However, she meets a Romani fiddler and artist, Aleandrao, and they quickly fall in love despite the differences in class that make them look incompatible to outsiders.

The outbreak of war separates Eva and Aleandro, but their chance meeting that summer leads to decisions that change their individual futures.

This historical fiction spans well beyond WW2 in Hungary and will also help you learn about the Hungarian uprising of 1956.

by Leon Leyson

Setting: POLAND

When the author was ten years old, his homeland of Poland was invaded, and his family was forced to move to a Krakow ghetto. Daily life required perseverance for survival in unbelievably cruel conditions.

Eventually, his life was saved by the incredibly generous and brave actions of Oskar Shindler. This book is the only memoir from a Schindler's list child. It is said to leave a legacy of hope despite the subject matter.

The Book Girls Say...The book is middle-grade, which means it's an excellent pick for anyone doing the Book Voyage challenge with a child. But don't let that dissuade you from picking it up as an adult. It's powerful for any age reader.

by Stephen Walker

Setting: RUSSIA

This non-fiction book will take you back to 1961 Russia. The world watched as the United States prepared for its first space launch. But, on April 12th, 1961, Russia sent a ballistic missile initially designed for war soaring at 18,000 miles per hour. A cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin was in a tiny capsule attached to the top of the missile, making him the first person to leave Earth.

The book tells the whole story of that mission and the day and includes previously unknown information from many involved, but who had never spoken about that day.

by Kristin Hannah

Setting: RUSSIA

Sisters Meredith and Nina have little in common other than their love for their dear father. They've spent most of their life feeling like they didn't really know their mother, but when their father falls ill, his final wish is for his daughters to get to know their mother better. In their younger years, Anya sometimes told the girls a Russian fairy tale and their father makes her promise that she will tell the story one last time - all the way to the end.

The story alternates between past and present as Meredith and Nina hear the fairy tale and learn the harrowing story of the mother's life five decades earlier in war-torn Leningrad, Russia. They will ultimately learn something so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

The Book Girls Say... Like all of Kristin Hannah's novels, this book is beautifully written. It is a bit slow to start, and you may find it hard to connect with the characters at first because they aren't immediately likable, but you'll find yourself pulled in as the lines between fairy tale and reality begin to blur.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Sara Nović 

Setting: CROATIA

In 1991, 10 year old Ana had no idea that Yugoslavia was about to erupt into the chaos that would eventually lead her home of Croatia to become its own country.

Ana's daily life goes from carefree days playing in the streets to learning about snipers and child soldiers. Her coming of age period is transformed by this new and enduring conflict. Eventually, she makes a daring escape to America.

After a while, she hides her tragic past from others and even from herself. However, while in college, she decides to return alone to Croatia to rediscover her homeland.

Ruta Sepetys

Setting: LITHUANIA & RUSSIA

Lina is a typical 15-year-old Lithuanian girl who loves painting, drawing, and boys. But one night in 1941, Soviet officers burst into her home, tearing her family away from their comfortable life. She and her mother and brother are forced onto a train with no idea where they are headed.

Under Stalin's orders, they are sent into a work camp under the cruelest and coldest conditions. But, somehow, Lina finds comfort in her drawings. She depicts the scenes she witnesses daily in hopes that they'll provide proof of all they are forced to endure.

The Book Girls Say... This YA novel deals with the very grim realities of a Gulag and will introduce you to a side of WII that you've probably learned little about. Some readers didn't enjoy the audio version of this book as much as the printed version.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
97% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Elizabeth Kostova

Setting: BULGARIA

This suspenseful novel will take you through different phases of Bulgarian history. Twenty-six-year-old American Alexandra travels to the beautiful city of Sofia, hoping the change of scenery will help her deal with the loss of her brother.

After arriving and helping an elderly couple into a taxi, she realizes that she still has one of their bags. When she discovers that the bag holds a box of ashes, she's determined to find the couple. Her search encompasses experiences that teach her about the history and culture of Bulgaria, which is a more dangerous investigation than she expected.

by Roxanne Veletzos

Setting: ROMANIA

In 1941, Romania was newly allied with the German army, and the Jewish population was in grave danger of persecution. One freezing night, a young Jewish girl's parents are forced to leave her behind, and she is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest.

The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy couple that renames her Natalia. She comes of age in Romania under Soviet occupation, where life behind the Iron Curtain feels bleak and hopeless.

When Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she is reunited with Victor, who she had a secret crush on in her younger years. He is now an important official in the Communist regime, and the two are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor's dark secrets.

When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. She must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to live life on her own terms.

The Book Girls Say... This historical fiction novel is perfect for fans of Lilac Girls and Sarah's Key.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Geraldine Brooks

Setting: BOSNIA

In 1996, Hanna, a rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime working on the conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish manuscripts ever illuminated with illustrations. The priceless book was rescued during the Bosnian War.

When Hanna discovers a series of tiny artifacts in the book's ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book's mysteries.

Inspired by a true story, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks has created a novel of sweeping historical grandeur. In Bosnia during WWII, a Muslim risks his life to protect the book from the German army. In turn of the century Vienna, the book has become a pawn in the struggle against the city's rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves the book from being burned. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah's extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed.

WARNING: This book includes a scene of graphic rape.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Bill Browder

Setting: RUSSIA

This real-life political thriller tells the true story of an American financier Bill Browder, a graduate of Stanford Business School, who began his career as a hedge fund investor in the 1990s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, his career led him to Moscow, where he co-founded Hermitage Capital Management and became the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia.

A decade later, when Browder exposed the corrupt Russian oligarchs who were robbing the companies he was investing in, Vladimir Putin had him expelled from Russia. All the while, his employees in Russia lived in fear, and his attorney - Sergei Magnitsky - was ultimately imprisoned in Moscow, where he died.

The Book Girls Say... This memoir provides an enthralling look inside the terrifying world of Russian business, government corruption, and human rights violation. This book also provides the context for the Magnitsky Act, which the US Congress passed and signed into law in 2012.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Ruta Sepetys

Setting: BALTIC SEA & EAST PRUSSIA (now Lithuania, Poland, and Russia)

When you think of maritime disasters, the Titanic is probably the first that comes to mind. But the deadliest disaster at sea occurred in 1945 when a Soviet submarine sunk the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner, in the Baltic Sea.

As WWII drew to a close and the Red Army advanced on Germany, a massive evacuation effort began to ferry civilians, soldiers, and equipment to safety. The Wilhelm Gustloff, which had a capacity of 1,800, was packed with more than 10,500 passengers. More than 9,000 people lost their lives when the ship sank, including 5,000 infants and children.

This historical fiction YA novel, tells the stories of four passengers - 21-year-old Joana, who is fleeing her native country of Lithuania; Florian, an artist from East Prussia; 15-year-old Emilia from Poland, who is pregnant; and Alfred, a pompous 17-year-old German soldier.

When tragedy strikes, each of them - regardless of country, culture, or status - must fight for their survival.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
97% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Vladimir Lorchenkov

Setting: MOLDOVA

The Moldovian village of Larga is depressed in more ways than one, and its remaining citizens long for a better life. Meanwhile, just over the border in Italy, the economy is booming. Moldovan writer Vladimir Lorchenkov tells the story of a group of villagers desperate to emigrate from Europe's most impoverished nation to Italy for work, which leads to all kinds of shenanigans.

In this "simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking" satirical tale, an Orthodox priest is deserted by his wife for an art-dealing atheist; a mechanic redesigns his tractor for travel by air and sea and thousands of villagers take to the road on a modern-day religious crusade to make it to the promised land of Italy. Meanwhile, politicians remain politicians.

The Book Girls Say...For another look at Moldova, check out Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks.

by Elena Gorokhova

Setting: RUSSIA

Sasha dreams of becoming an actress and moves to Moscow in hopes of attending a drama school. However, in post-WW2 Russia, everything is more complicated than it seems on the surface.

Leaving her small town is in defiance of her mother and grandparents, and also means leaving behind her first love, Andrei.

However, before she leaves, she discovers her uncle Kolya's journal. He's still missing in action, but his journal outlines the lies and brutality of Stalin. His experiences reinforce her desire to live out her dreams and graduate from acting school. But her past returns when Andrei, now a Communist party member, must censor her work on stage. She begins to wonder if her dreams are worth all the sacrifices they require.

The Book Girls Say...If you're reading this in February 2022 and are a Prime member, it's included as one of the free Amazon First Reads selections. If you aren't a prime member, it's still priced affordably for a brand new release.

by Sofka Zinovieff

Setting: GREECE

London-born Sofka fell in love with Greece when she studied there. Years later, she returns to live in Athens with her expatriate Greek husband and two young daughters. Using her skill as a journalist, she wrote this fresh, funny, and inquiring 2005 memoir of her first year as an Athenian. Sofka recounts how each member of her family came to grips with their new life and identities. This includes the children starting school and tackling a new language; her husband, Vassilis, coming home to Greece after half a lifetime away; and Sofka herself getting to know her new city better and striving to become a Greek citizen.

As the months go by, Sofka discovers how memories of Athens' past haunt its present through music, poetry, and history. She also learns about the art of catching a taxi, the importance of smoking, the unimportance of time-keeping, and how to get your Christmas piglet cooked at the bakers.

by Inara Verzemnieks

Setting: LATVIA

The author of this memoir was raised in the US by her Lativian grandparents, with many traditions from their homeland.

Unfortunately, her grandmother was separated from her sister, Ausma, during WWII and couldn't see her for over 50 years. To learn more about this family saga, Inara travels back to Lativa and reconnects with her great-aunt Ausma in a small Latvian village.

Ausma was exiled to Siberia under Stalin and had a much different post-war experience than her sister. The author unites these stories from her personal family history of significant loss and great love in a lyrical way that will keep the pages turning.

The Book Girls Say... You'll learn a lot about Latvia's tragic history throughout this memoir, making this a challenging read.

by Scott Stambach

Setting: BELARUS

Seventeen-year-old Ivan Isaenko is a life-long resident of the Mazyr Hospital for Gravely Ill Children in Belarus. He was born with physical deformities but is mentally keen with a frighteningly sharp wit, strong intellect, and a voracious appetite for books.

Forced to interact with the world through the vivid prism of his mind, most of Ivan's days are exactly the same. As a result, he turns everything into a game, manipulating people and events around him for his own amusement.

In this heart-wrenching and powerful debut novel, Ivan's monotonous world is upended when a new resident named Polina arrives at the hospital. At first, he resents Polina because she steals his books and challenges his routine. But soon, he finds that he is drawn to her. The two forge an unusual romance.

Before, Ivan merely survived, but now he wants something more.

The Book Girls Say...Our readers report that this one will make you feel the whole gamut of emotions, but also that it's not great if you're overly squeamish about medical tests like blood draws since they are a regular part of Ivan's life.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
75% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Anthony Marra

Setting: CHECHNYA

The book weaves between the story of five days in the life of 8-year-old Havaa, who is orphaned when Russian soldiers kidnap her father, and the larger story of two Chechen Wars that took place from 1994 to 2004.

When a neighbor finds Havaa in the forest, he takes her to the abandoned hospital, where only one doctor, Sonja, remains. Sonja is already overburdened and has no desire to add to her responsibilities, but then unlikely companionship forms between the three characters.

Most describe this book as beautifully written, but some have trouble following the shifting timelines. You’ll want a lighter read after this one, but most reviews say it’s worth meeting these characters and learning about a lesser-known piece of history.

The Book Girls Say...This bestseller was commonly noted as one of the best books of 2013, however, some readers don't enjoy the overly scientific information or the depressing feel.

by Kapka Kassabova

Setting: BULGARIA

This travel narrative explores the author’s birthplace in Bulgaria, near the Turkish and Greek border, which she left 25 years prior.

Border is a multifaceted look at Eastern Europe post-cold war, including the contemporary migrant crisis as people have fled Syria and Iraq on foot. The book covers human experiences, political factors, and describes the varied landscape from the “red Riveria” beaches to dense forests.

by Bohumil Hrabal

Setting: CZECHIA (formerly the Czech Republic)

This book was first circulated as a typewritten copy in 1971, during a period of censorship in Czechoslovakia, and was formally published for the first time in 1983. This "extraordinary and subtly tragicomic novel" (The New York Times) follows the misadventure of ambitious Ditie who works as a busboy and waiter throughout the deluxe hotels of pre-WWII Prague.

As WWII draws to a close, a briefcase full of valuable stamps comes into Ditie's possession. He sells them and reaches the heights of his ambition - building his own hotel and becoming a millionaire. However, following the communist takeover, he loses everything. He is sentenced to a "millionaire's prison." The inmates live in high style and have access to all the luxuries they had on the outside.

The Book Girls Say... This unusual but highly entertaining story was also made into a 2006 film, which is available via Prime Video.

by Amor Towles

Setting: RUSSIA

In 1922, Count Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel across from the Kremlin. Over the next 30 years, he remains in the hotel but manages to form relationships with new friends, a lover, and a precocious nine-year-old who takes him on spying adventures in hidden spaces of the hotel.

Because the book covers 30 years, you'll get insight into a large and vital segment of Russian history through the eyes of one witty man.

The Book Girls Say...We were hesitant to include this book because it takes place only inside a hotel, so it doesn't have any details of the region's landscape. It's also a slow-burn, which makes for a long read of an already lengthy book. However, it talks about food, Russian literature, and some of the strife of the Stalin era. Those who enjoy it absolutely love it. Just keep in mind it's very much a character study vs. something plot-driven with lots of action.

by Robert Dugoni

Setting: RUSSIA

Charles is retired from the CIA, but with a new baby on the way, he finds himself desperate for money. So when his former bureau chief shows up with a risky new assignment that would take him undercover in Moscow, he agrees to the mission because he can't afford not to.

He is charged with locating a Russian agent who is believed to be taking out members of a US spy cell, but when he identifies the agent, he discovers she's not who he thought. Charles soon finds himself abandoned by the agency he serves and fighting to survive a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The Book Girls Say...  Fans of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell will recognize this author, although this pulse-pounding thriller is of a very different style. The Kindle version is currently free with Kindle Unlimited.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Victoria Hislop

Setting: GREECE

This epic historical fiction novel captures the energy and life of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Dimitri is born to one of the wealthiest families in the city, but after a great fire sweeps through Thessaloniki in 1917, destroying the family's villa, they are forced to relocate to a poorer section of the city - one where Christians, Jews, and Muslims have been living side by side in harmony.

As a young girl, Katerina's family is evacuated from their home in Turkey, and she becomes separated from her mother and sister. While her family ends up in Athens, she finds herself in Thessaloniki. Here, she becomes a seamstress creating beautiful gowns for the wealthy women of Thessaloniki.

The lives of Dimitri and Katerina become intertwined, and their love story endures even as their beloved city is ruined by earthquakes, fires, and wartime and time again. This is a heart-warming love story, but it also provides excellent insight into the troubled history of this region.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
75% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Grigory Rodchenkov

Setting: RUSSIA

In this memoir, which was named the 2020 William Hill Sports Book of the Year, and which tells the full story behind the 2017 Oscar Award-winning film, Icarus, the author details how he was the mastermind behind, and then the whistleblower that brought down, Russia's secret doping empire.

This story charts Rodchenkov's childhood growing up behind the Iron Curtain, his first encounter with doping as a student-athlete at Moscow State University, and his career working for the Soviet Olympic Committee.

In 2015, Russia's Anti-Doping Centre was suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following revelations of an elaborate state-sponsored doping program at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The doping program involved a nearly undetectable steroid delivery system known as 'Duchesse cocktail' and tampering with and switching of urine samples in a complex state-sanctioned cover-up.

by Aliide Naylor

Setting: ESTONIA, LATVIA, and LITHUANIA

Based on her extensive research and work as a journalist, Aliide Naylor takes us inside the current geopolitics of the Baltic region. Naylor's maternal grandmother escaped from Estonia at the end of WW2, and she has lived in both St. Petersburg and Moscow, giving her insight into the Baltics from both sides of the fence.

Traveling to the heart of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, she explores modernity in the region that birthed Skype, investigates smuggling and reports of troop movements in the borderlands, and explains the countries' unique cultural identities. Naylor provides historical context for current events and shares why the Baltics matter, along with the reasons this region is about to become the new frontline in the political struggle between East and West.

by Magdalena MacGuire

Setting: POLAND

Ania grew up in a small country village in Poland, but moved to Wroclaw to pursue her dream of being a sculptor. When she falls in love with a writer, Dominik, she enters a world of parties with other avant-garde artists.

Suddenly, in 1980, communist tanks became a common sight in town. The artistic community is pushed underground, but they are ready to fight back.