"The biography of Lviv during this time period is an exceptional and beautifully written story, one that is available in both Ukrainian and Polish. Hnatiuk presents the story free from academic jargon and does not overbear with the amount of material. A simple description has never been enough for Lviv, the topic of so many academic and non-academic works. Yet Hnatiuk, master of words that she is, rooted in both Ukrainian and Polish culture, has succeeded in presenting it as completely as possible." —Dorota Sieroń-Galusek, <i>Eastern Café</i> "Hnatiuk evokes rather than argues; and she avoids exploiting the advantages of hindsight to justify a tone of superiority towards her protagonists. As a researcher, she is impeccable in her commitment to thoroughness, her respect for truthfulness, her attention to nuance and her resistance to whitewashing moral ambiguity." —Marci Shore, <i>Times Literary Supplement</i>

<i>"The biography of Lviv during this time period is an exceptional and beautifully written story, one that is available in both Ukrainian and Polish. Hnatiuk presents the story free from academic jargon and does not overbear with the amount of material. A simple description has never been enough for Lviv, the topic of so many academic and non-academic works. Yet Hnatiuk, master of words that she is, rooted in both Ukrainian and Polish culture, has succeeded in presenting it as completely as possible."</i><b> — Dorota Sieroń-Galusek, <i>Eastern Café</i></b><br /><br /><i>"Hnatiuk evokes rather than argues; and she avoids exploiting the advantages of hindsight to justify a tone of superiority towards her protagonists. As a researcher, she is impeccable in her commitment to thoroughness, her respect for truthfulness, her attention to nuance and her resistance to whitewashing moral ambiguity."</i><b> — Marci Shore, <i>Times Literary Supplement</i></b><br /><br /><i>"Hnatiuk's perspective is unique: she is Polish but has an unusual scholarly orientation toward Ukraine. She portrays the impact of the political changes in these terrible years on Lviv’s intellectual communities without flinching but also without making excuses. For anyone interested in the clash of culture and political repression or in Ukrainian and Polish culture during WW II, this book is an excellent read."<b> - CHOICE</b></i>