The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine

This captivating book offers an accessible and comprehensive account of Ukrainian history from the time of Herodotus to the present day, including the events in Eastern Ukraine. Thanks to the authoritative presentation, the reader gets the opportunity to better understand not only the past, but also the context of the present.
The author, Serhii Plokhy — a professor at Harvard University and one of the world's leading experts on the history of Ukraine and Eastern Europe - focuses on Ukrainians as the largest demographic group, and later - as the main force behind the creation of the modern nation.
The book reveals the secrets of the invitation of the Varangians to reign, describes the struggle for independence, the times of serfdom, communist terror, the Holodomor, the Second World War and the achievement of the long-awaited independence.