A Small, Stubborn Town cover art

A Small, Stubborn Town

Life, death and defiance in Ukraine – As heard on BBC Radio 4

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

A Small, Stubborn Town

By: Andrew Harding
Narrated by: Andrew Harding
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £10.41

Buy Now for £10.41

A Telegraph Book of the Year, soon to be a BBC Radio 4 dramatisation.

'Extraordinary.' Philippe Sands

'We are touched by the courage and dignity of Andrew Harding's characters - qualities that the author must surely possess in equal measure.' - Andrey Kurkov

'A story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people. - James Meek

'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' - Lindsey Hilsum

It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of Ukraine. Their destination: Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war.

The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight - or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals appear to have other ideas.

Svetlana, a grandmother with arthritis, reacts in fury when Russian troops turn her cottage into their blood-soaked headquarters. Valentin, a quick-talking lawyer, joins the town's 'Dads Army' defenders, crouching in a trench with an AK47. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Sergei grabs a Molotov cocktail and lies in wait for Russian tanks as they push towards Dead Water Bridge.

The odds are terrible. But a plan is emerging, and there's a chance it could save not just Voznesensk, but the rest of southern Ukraine. Meanwhile, inside the tanks, an inner battle rages. As Russian officer Igor Rudenko prepares to invade, he has a secret. He is Ukrainian himself.

A gripping work of reportage that tells the story of a pivotal moment in Ukraine's war, this is a real-life thriller about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with resilience, humour and ingenuity.

'[Andrew Harding is] one of our most gifted and sensitive journalists' - Jon Snow Military Military & War Politics & Government Russia War
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

'It would be wonderful if the story told in this beautiful little book were the author's invention. But alas, the story itself is pure truth. Andrew Harding's characters invite the reader into their daily struggle which we witness with awe and empathy. We are touched by their courage and dignity - qualities that the author must surely have possessed in equal measure to record these extraordinary events.' (Andrey Kurkov)
'A piercing book: the story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people, and an accessible, limpid account of what battle is actually like. (James Meek)
'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' (Lindsey Hilsum)
All stars
Most relevant
A story well told and narrated. Harding provides clarity and insight into how profoundly The Special Military Operation unexpectedly impacted the lives of ordinary folk in the unremarkable town of Voznesensk. This is great reporting far removed from the highly visual bangs, flashes and ensuing destruction we see on screen. Harding's gripping account of how the conflict develops around the town gives an immersive edge as the story unfolds with the various characters. The sense of bewilderment, fear, conflicted emotions and confusion for Ukrainian civilians (as well as for some 'liberating' Russian soldiers) gives added emotional depth. Tragic, and highly topical, but a gripping read.

A gripping read with an immersive edge

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The best thing I’ve ever heard on Audible. The text is beautifully written and evocative. The performance is note-perfect.

Gripping

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well narrated and fascinating detail and insight into the early part of the invasion. Would just have liked it to be longer!

Great narrative reportage

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A brief account of a few days at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the volume of events and stories emerging from the country can be overwhelming, it is very useful to have a narrative focussed on a few days in one specific locality. We meet a small group of people and live through the fear, trauma and excitement of facing down an attacking army.
The characters described are not romanticised into idealised heroes and heroines. They are ordinary, normal people dealing with life's problems as best they can. The Russians are not demonised either, and we understand something of their confusion when attacking what they were told is a brother country. Fear and adrenaline leads to many terrible things, on both sides.
There is an encouraging note about the positive effect of the war on Ukrainians' civic identity. This story has an almost happy conclusion but it is by no means the end, as the author points out with a well-chosen quote from Chekhov.
Above all the story is significant for being the polar opposite of fake news and propaganda. The author does us a fantastic service by providing an account based on his experience of working what he has seen and heard. Being a war journalist is a dangerous job and we can only be grateful for the courage and integrity on display.

Vindication of the value of journalism witness

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
a personal story, well written and well read. a glimpse behind the news headlines of the war in Ukraine

well worth a listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews