Orlando Figes's books have been translated into 20 languages - they include Crimea, Just Send Me Word, Natasha's Dance, A People's Tragedy and The Whisperers. Figes is Professor of Modern History at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is Britain's foremost writer on the Soviet Union.

Insightful and convincing... Figes integrates his analysis into a highly readable story, and he shows himself to be a master of historical narrative. Readers will find themselves absorbing a great deal of information and insight with very little effort