The Siege

by Helen Dunmore
The Siege cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Historical Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 666
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780141924977
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2002-05-30
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Set against the backdrop of one of history's most desperate winters, The Siege follows the intertwined lives of Anna and Andrei, and Anna's father and a banned actress, Marina. As the city faces unimaginable hardships, including starvation and extreme cold, the characters must find the strength to endure not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, exploring themes of love, survival, and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity. /n/n Dunmore's literary prowess shines through in this vivid and intimate portrayal of war's impact on everyday people. The Siege is praised for its deeply moving narrative and the author's ability to reconstruct the suffering of the time with such detail that it feels almost firsthand. It stands as a powerful celebration of life and love amidst the darkest of times.

Reviews
Nichole Louise's Blog · Nichole Louise · 2024-01-29
impactful 4.75

The prose is both delicate and gritty, capturing the beauty and ugliness of life. The reviewer excels at portraying the brutality and fragility of human existence.

Nichole Louise finds Helen Dunmore's prose in 'The Siege' to be both delicate and gritty, effectively capturing the fleeting beauty and ugliness of life. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to portray the brutality and fragility of human existence during the siege. They highlight the vivid descriptions and the emotional depth of the narrative, which makes the story both poignant and impactful. The reviewer also notes the author's skill in balancing the harsh realities of war with moments of tenderness and hope.

Quick quotes

    Her prose both delicate and gritty in encapsulating the fleeting beauty and ugliness of life.

    She also excels at capturing the brutality and fragility of human existence.

    The vivid descriptions and the emotional depth of the narrative.

Claire Huston's Blog · Claire Huston · 2016-12-05
powerful 4.50

The novel is powerful and moving, with brilliant descriptions and complex characters. It is a bleak read but beautifully crafted.

Claire Huston praises 'The Siege' for its powerful and moving narrative, highlighting the brilliant descriptions and complex characters. She notes that while the novel is bleak, it is also beautifully crafted, making it a deeply affecting read. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the characters and the vivid portrayal of their experiences during the siege, which makes the story both compelling and emotionally resonant. Despite the bleakness, the novel's brilliance shines through in its prose and character development.

Quick quotes

    Overall: powerful and moving, with brilliant descriptions and complex characters.

    This is also a bleak read only to be expected.

    The novel is beautifully crafted.

The Guardian · 2011-02-05
harrowing 4.00

The novel is an agonising and numbing read, highlighting the harsh realities of war. It offers a stark portrayal of the human experience during the siege.

The reviewer finds 'The Siege' to be an agonising read, yet it is also numbing in its portrayal of the harsh realities of war. The novel does not shy away from the brutal conditions and the impact on ordinary people, making it a deeply affecting experience. They appreciate the stark and unflinching depiction of the siege, which makes the story both powerful and harrowing. The reviewer acknowledges the emotional weight of the narrative, which stays with the reader long after finishing the book.

Quick quotes

    The Siege is an agonising read, but also a numbing one.

    The novel narrates the first and worst winter of a siege that lasted from 1941.

    This is a book minutely attentive to physical surroundings and privations.

Appears in Lists