Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine - Anne Applebaum (Book)

Title: Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine

Author: Anne Applebaum

Date Published: October 10, 2017

Publisher: Doubleday (U.S.); Allen Lane / Penguin Books (U.K.)

Category: Non-fiction / History / Soviet Studies / Genocide

Anne Applebaum’s Red Famine is a meticulously researched account of the Holodomor, the devastating famine that struck Soviet Ukraine between 1932 and 1933. Drawing upon newly available archives, eyewitness testimonies, and scholarly research, Applebaum argues that the famine was not merely a consequence of poor planning but a deliberate act by Stalin’s regime to suppress Ukrainian nationalism and resistance. The Soviet government enforced brutal policies, including grain requisitions and travel restrictions, leading to the deaths of millions of Ukrainians.

The book has been praised for its comprehensive analysis and compelling narrative. The Guardian described it as a vivid account that exposes the myths surrounding the catastrophic Ukrainian famine. The New Yorker highlighted Applebaum’s use of new archival research to demonstrate that the famine was a state-orchestrated program specifically targeted at Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Red Famine is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. It has been recognized as a significant contribution to the understanding of Soviet history and the mechanisms of state-induced suffering.