Vasily Grossman’s huge novel Life and Fate. It’s horribly topical, set in war-torn Ukraine and Russia – but in the second world war, not today. Grossman was a respected war journalist, Ukrainian, who drew on his first-hand experiences of Stalingrad and Ukraine. It’s deeply moving, powerful and compelling – very highly recommended.
– Jane Chittenden
Not directly writing related, but I absolutely loved my visit to Small is Beautiful, a miniature art exhibition in London. I went there expecting a bit of fun and whimsy, but the works by 33 artists were so much more than that – as rich in storytelling as they were in intricate detail.
– Sophie Gordon