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A review by gj377
The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokhy
3.0
Having enjoyed Plokhy's Chernobyl book, and considering current world events, I was keen to pick up Gates of Europe in order to understand more about Ukraine's history, beyond its nuclear legacy. From Tatars to Cossacks to Oligarchs, Plokhy aims to cover hundreds of years of Ukrainian history, and using the history to frame the modern Ukrainian state (up to 2015).
The book tries to deal with notions of nationality, ethnicity, and identity, and indeed, the task of nation-building in regions that have undergone continual change, and constantly-shifting borders over the centuries. While there are many interesting parts to the book - a lot of which gives context to current events - the book is overly dry, and a real slog to read in places.
The hopeful endnote of the book, published in 2015, only feels like a knife in the back of Ukrainian optimism, given the current political climate, and the war with Russia.
Something to dip into over time if you are interested. Plokhy's Chernobyl book is much more accessible.
The book tries to deal with notions of nationality, ethnicity, and identity, and indeed, the task of nation-building in regions that have undergone continual change, and constantly-shifting borders over the centuries. While there are many interesting parts to the book - a lot of which gives context to current events - the book is overly dry, and a real slog to read in places.
The hopeful endnote of the book, published in 2015, only feels like a knife in the back of Ukrainian optimism, given the current political climate, and the war with Russia.
Something to dip into over time if you are interested. Plokhy's Chernobyl book is much more accessible.