When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the world witnessed the 'creative, freewheeling, darkly humorous, and deeply resilient society' of contemporary Ukraine, and discovered more about a country with a history that is 'exceptionally rich in examples of survival, solidarity and resilience.'

In this timely and original history, already a bestseller in Ukraine, Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak, Ukrainian intellectual and public historian, tells the sweeping story of his nation through a meticulous examination of the major events, conflicts and developments that have shaped it over the course of centuries, exploring Ukraine's dramatic history, incredible fight for freedom and its place as an independent nation in our world today.

This book is a definitive story of Ukraine and its people, as told by one of its most celebrated voices.