Media Reviews
Associated Press
A testament to resilience… Alexei Navalny never loses faith…. He tracks the boredom, isolation, exhaustion, suffering and absurdity of prison life, while working in asides about everything from 19th century French literature to Billie Eilish. But
Patriot also reads as a testament to a famed dissident's extraordinary battle against despair as the Russian authorities gradually increase their crackdown against him, and even shares advice on how to confront the worst and still not lose hope.
New York Times
Patriot is by turns funny, fiery, reflective and tragic, laced with Navalny's trademark wry humor and idealism….a gutting personal account from a husband and father facing the reality that he will never be with his family again
The Atlantic
A chance to commune with the mind of a dissident….[with] slicing clarity…. Navalny himself [had]…such reserves of fortitude…such a sense of self…such an ability to laugh but also believe.
The Economist
Patriot…will be seen as a historic text….Much like Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from a Dead House" (1862)… and Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (1963),
Patriot transcends its place and time. Its value lies not in what it tells you about the cruelties of Mr. Putin's regime, but in what it reveals about the human spirit….[
Patriot] is a passionate account of Russia's extreme violence and a moving reflection on endurance and accepting death…. In a dictatorship, Navalny's only weapon was his life.
The Washington Post
Honest, full of penetrating wit… as cheerful and empathetic as Putin is malevolent and threatening. [Navanly] wielded cheerfulness as a weapon and never lost faith that the right side must eventually prevail.
Vanity Fair
Alexei Navalny's memoir is a gospel…Like a beautifully crafted novel….Uplifting…. Terrifying…. [His prison diaries are] horrifying, but impossible to stop reading…. He remained unfailingly radiant.
Financial Times (UK)
A worthy testament to the author's resistance… and a heartbreaking account of Russia's collapse into war and repression… [
Patriot is] the best example left to us of Navalny's defiance, courage, humour, and love for a country he believed could become 'the beautiful Russia of the future'.
The Guardian
Extraordinary… This is a brave and brilliant book, a luminous account of Navalny's life and dark times. It is a challenge from beyond the grave to Russia's murder-addicted rulers…. sharp, playful and lacking in self-pity. Nothing crushes him.
The Sunday Times (UK)
So brilliant Putin had to kill him…. soul-jarring
The Telegraph (UK)
[
Patriot] records the Russian dissident's brave career and dark final days… Gripping… compelling, impressive… his enthusiasm is so infectious… a remarkable achievement…. [with] deep pathos.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Every page is alive…. Long after Putin draws his last breath, people will read this aptly titled book, an inestimable record of a heroic life, one that will inspire generations to come. A true profile in courage, written with verve and wit.
Yulia Navalnaya
This book is a testament not only to Alexei's life, but to his unwavering commitment to the fight against dictatorship—a fight he gave everything for, including his life. Through its pages, readers will come to know the man I loved deeply—a man of profound integrity and unyielding courage. Sharing his story will not only honor his memory but also inspire others to stand up for what is right and to never lose sight of the values that truly matter.
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