Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster

by Svetlana Alexievich, Svetlana Alexievich, Svetlana Aleksiévitx

Book Overview

An account of the worst nuclear reactor accident in history from the 2015 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown-from innocent citizens to firefighters to...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564784010
• ISBN13: 9781564784018
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT

This is a must read for anyone and everyone. It brings to life the realities of a horrible disaster. It shows us that the rest of world has bigger problems than we do. Yet, it shows that the rest of the world has the same souls as we do. they love, they hurt, they cry, they live their lives and just try to get by. GET THIS BOOK.

20 Years Later and People Don't Understand The Human Impact.

Mankind can promote technology and advancement in the name of science and at the same time treat his fellow humans with contempt and dishonesty in this way. How is that possible? It can only be described as Satanic. Mankind dominating man to his own injury. The stories from these innocent bystanders have touched my heart. I have never cried after reading a book before this one. The first hand accounts of this terrible accident transports you to the towns, villages and families, like our own, which were and are still effected. The "Voices From Chernobyl" will echo in my head as I think of the place I live and look ahead to the future of my family. These people have touched my soul and only amplify the fact in my mind that the desire to live peaceful and happy lives belongs to everyone and no one has the right to foolishly remove that by disturbing the simple silent harmonies that are so fragile and exist within our world. I understand what these people really had to go through now. Thank you Svetlana Alexievich. An excellent book!

No Nukes

READ THIS BOOK! First, I am a retired career military officer and veteran combat fighter pilot who once flew aircraft armed with nuclear weapons. This compilation of personal histories is heart-wrenching and soul-searching. The mostly free and honest recitations are emotionally searing. The first chapter brought tears to my eyes before I was half-through. These histories are also an indictment of the cover-your-tail, follow the party line, system of government and a stern warning that nuclear power must be under the closest of controls - forever. I finished the book about 1100PM but was unable to fall asleep until after 0130AM. I am, after reading this book, totally against the commercial use of atomic energy since the drive for profit must inevitably result in lowering of standards in maintenance and operational control as has already been manifested in, say, Three-Mile Island. I only wish I had the funds to send a copy of this book to every Congressperson. George Soros, are you there? Walter E. Bjorneby, Lt/Col, USAF (Ret)

Mesmerizing and chilling

This book is a translation of interviews with survivors 10 years after Chernobyl. The first-person descriptions of living in the "Zone" after the disaster, and the implications of living in radioactivity is chilling and compelling. The book is full of heartbreaking stories of Russian people who survived WWII but then were confronted with another disaster of unbelievable magnitude. I absolutely couldn't put this book down, and feel that it should be promoted as one of the best books of the year. As we are now approaching the 20th anniversary of this event, I keep wondering how many of those people interviewed in 1996 are still alive. This book deserves a huge audience!