A Russian Journal book cover
Post-War Soviet Portrait

A Russian Journal

by John Steinbeck

Format

Audiobook Narrated by Richard Poe 7 hrs and 1 min

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In 1947, John Steinbeck embarked on a remarkable journey through the Soviet Union with acclaimed photographer Robert Capa, determined to report on the ordinary Russian people rather than Cold War politics. This account offers a rare, candid glimpse into post-war Soviet life, from the collective farms of Ukraine to the ruins of Stalingrad, capturing everyday moments that transcended the era's propaganda and suspicion.

Steinbeck's humane, perceptive writing reveals a Russia seldom seen by Western eyes: markets buzzing with life, families rebuilding from devastation, and the universal human experiences that connect us all. Combined with Capa's powerful photography, this becomes an invaluable historical document and a testament to the power of curiosity over ideology. A fascinating read for anyone interested in travel writing, twentieth-century history, or the enduring question of how we understand cultures beyond our own.

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