Guardian Faber snaps up Harding's 'panoramic' account of Ukraine war

Guardian Faber has snapped up Invasion: Russia’s Bloody War and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival, an "essential" chronicle of the ongoing European war by journalist Luke Harding.

Associate publisher Laura Hassan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada and including audio, from Susanna Lea at Susanna Lea Associates. Invasion will be published in hardback on 24th November 2022.

"A breathtaking work of reportage, Harding spent months reporting on the ground during the build up to the conflict and afterwards," the synopsis reads. "His book tells of the initial days of shock and panic, the grim reality of this ongoing war, and the unheard human stories behind the headlines. It is a panoramic account which describes the horrors of Mariupol and Bucha; Russia’s brutal occupation in the south; the battle for the Donbas; and Ukraine’s heroic refusal to submit. Invasion offers insightful portraits of the the war’s two great personalities. 

"One, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is an actor turned president who rallied support on a global stage. The other, Vladimir Putin, is a dictator who dwells in a strange and unreachable realm. Harding examines the ideological, religious and personal reasons behind Putin’s decision to invade. And he confronts a crucial question: which side will prevail in this terrible war?"

Hassan said: "This will be the first book to be published from the thunderous frontline of Europe’s biggest conflict since 1945. Luke warned correctly about Putin’s dark and adventurist ambitions in his previous best-selling titles, Collusion and Shadow State (Guardian Faber). Invasion is essential reading for anyone interested in Ukraine and the fate of its citizens. He tells the story of a world upended with verve, sensitivity and expertise. This is history written in real time, by one of the world’s best reporters."