Alexis Peri Knihy

In September 1941, shortly after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union, the German Wehrmacht encircled Leningrad, leading to a blockade that lasted 872 days and claimed nearly a million civilian lives, marking it as one of the longest and deadliest sieges in modern history. This work chronicles the Leningrad blockade through the eyes of those who endured its horrors. Utilizing 125 unpublished diaries from individuals across Soviet society, it reveals how citizens grappled with a disintegrating world. These intimate accounts detail the devastating effects of starvation, bombardment, and disease, with diary writing serving as a crucial means of preserving their humanity. The journals also reflect a shift in perspectives, as Leningraders began to critically reassess Soviet life and ideology. Although the party encouraged diary writing to inform future histories, the diarists ultimately became victims of both Hitler and Stalin. The city’s isolation rendered it politically suspect, leading to censorship and the arrest of wartime leaders after the blockade ended in 1944. Many were executed, and the diaries, once vital, were hidden away and forgotten. This narrative recovers these lost voices, illuminating one of World War II's darkest chapters.

In the early Cold War era, American and Soviet women engaged in a unique pen-pal correspondence that fostered friendship amidst political tension. Historian Alexis Peri reveals how these letters, spanning from World War II into the 1950s, showcased personal diplomacy as the women discussed shared challenges like unequal pay and motherhood. Despite advocating for peace, they also confronted contentious issues such as racial segregation and labor practices. Their correspondence, initially overlooked by governments, ultimately faced scrutiny during the Red Scare, highlighting their struggle to connect beyond political divides.