Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy

Review

An insightful and important book, that often reads like a good thriller, and that exposes the danger of mixing powerful technology with irresponsible politics (Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens)

This history reads like an academic thriller written by Malcolm Gladwell. Without losing any detail or nuance, Plokhy has a knack for making complicated things simple while still profound. As moving as it is painstakingly researched, this book is a tour de force and a cracking read (Viv Groskop Observer)

A work of deep scholarship and powerful stroytelling. Plokhy is the master of the telling detail (Victor Sebestyen Sunday Times)

A compelling history of the 1986 disaster and its aftermath. . . Plokhy's well-paced narrative plunges the reader into the sweaty, nervous tension of the Chernobyl control room (Daniel Beer Guardian)

The first comprehensive history of the Chernobyl disaster. . . here at last is the monumental history the disaster deserves (Julie McDowall The Times)

Plokhy, a Harvard professor of Ukrainian background, is ideally placed to tell the harrowing story of Chernobyl. . . he has an immense knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian history and maintains the highest standards of scholarship (Tony Barber Financial Times)

A meticulous account of the disaster - and how the Soviet authorities tried to cover it up. . . A worthy winner of this year's Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction (Robbie Millen The Times Books of the Year)

About the Author

Serhii Plokhy is Professor of History at Harvard University and a leading authority on Eastern Europe whose previous books include Lost Kingdom, The Gates of Europe and The Last Empire. At the time of the Chernobyl explosion he lived behind the Iron Curtain less than 500 kilometres downstream of the damaged reactor.