Language of War

A stunning account of life in a time of war. If this doesn’t make you look up from your screen to reflect on Ukraine, then nothing will… often heart-rending… this is far more than history, invaluable as his detailed reporting is. As well as a reckoning with Russia, it is also a reflection on humanity in any war -- Alec Russell ― Financial Times

What role for the artist in times of catastrophe? An important book and a painful piece of history… brilliant -- Luke Harding ― Observer

A vivid account of invasion and the struggle to find the words to describe a new reality: war ― Financial Times

A harrowing recount of life as a Ukrainian during the first months of Russia’s invasion – a timely reminder of its ever-presence for the millions living through it. It is, in that sense, a book not about Ukraine but about Ukrainians. . . it will compel you to care ― Independent

In The Language of War, the author himself is the eyewitness… the book brims with horror… Mykhed wields a skilful, angry pen ― Economist

A detailed, on-the-ground account, reminding us of the atrocities that are changing life in Ukraine forever… The Language of War eats into the mind like phosphorus -- Robin Ashenden ― Spectator

Mykhed focusses on how culture and, in particular, language have become important theatres of war… a clever, passionate book -- Roger Boyes ― The Times

Before 24 February 2022, writer Oleksandr Mykhed and his wife, Olena, had an enviable life. In 2018 they’d bought a three-storey townhouse in Hostomel, a suburb of Kyiv. On Saturdays, they’d go out for brunch and walk their dog in the forest... Then came 24 February... Within less than a week, life had completely transformed... The Language of War is a book written in the moment, charting the first year of Russia's invasion... scattering fragments of his exploded past through the brutal reality of a grindingly violent present -- Charlotte Higgins ― Observer

Each piece of writing here helps us to understand a reality that we can and must repair. This book has helped me and will help anyone who wishes to understand war -- Timothy Snyder

I admired it so much because of the language: the precision of it, the shock… so fresh... one would rather that the book was never written because of the circumstances, but it is such a superb book -- Roddy Doyle