'Maybe the most compelling book on Ukraine published in English this year[...] A Small Stubborn Town reads like a novel, both in light of its beautifully wrought prose, and the extraordinary story of the remarkable civilian defence mounted by the town's eclectic residents' The Telegraph 'A short, brilliant book... Its characters could have walked out of a novel' Financial Times 'A cracking story ... that never loses sight of the "murderous absurdity" of Russia's war' -- Justin Marozzi The Spectator '[A] remarkable story ... propulsive' The Irish Times 'The story of Ukraine in perfect microcosm - ordinary people doing absolutely extraordinary things - beautifully told' -- Christina Lamb 'Riveting and vividly written ...