The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia

Orlando Figes' The Whisperers is a groundbreaking account of daily life in the chaotic and paranoid atmosphere of Stalinist Russia.

A Glimpse into Stalinist Russia

Exploring the inner life of a Russia where everyone was afraid to talk and society spoke in whispers, whether to protect friends and family—or to betray them—Orlando Figes tells the story of how Russians tried to endure life under Stalin's Terror.

• A junior worker might inform on their superior to get their job.
• A husband might inform to get rid of a lover.
• A neighbour might betray another out of petty jealousy.

In this world, living a double life became the norm. Yet, somehow, a few defied the state.

Victims of Their Own System

• Those who shaped the political system often became its victims.
• Those who were its victims were frequently quite blameless.

Drawing on hundreds of family archives from across the whole spectrum of Russian society, The Whisperers recreates the maze in which Russians found themselves. An unwitting wrong turn could either destroy a family or, perversely, later save it. This was a society in which everyone spoke in whispers—whether to protect themselves, their families, neighbours, or friends—or to inform on them.

Praise for The Whisperers

• "Wonderful ... an amazing panoramic view ... I've rarely read anything like it"
  — Claire Tomalin
• "Awesome ... one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read. I defy anyone to read it without weeping at its human suffering, cruelty and courage"
  — Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday
• "This is a heart-rending book ... its importance cannot be overestimated ... This book should be made compulsory reading in Russia today"
  — Antony Beevor, author of Stalingrad
• "A masterful account of lost and stolen lives"
  — Sunday Times

About the Author

Orlando Figes is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of Peasant Russia, Civil War, A People's Tragedy, Natasha's Dance, and The Whisperers.

He lives in Cambridge and London, and his books have been translated into over twenty languages.