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Author says reading Tolstoy is unacceptable’ in Ukraine
The Independent
|June 02, 2025
Philippe Sands said Ukrainians feel beleaguered’ because of the war but that some acknowledge not all Russians are bad
British-French author Philippe Sands has said he was told it is “unacceptable” to read the work of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sands is a lawyer and the author of bestselling books including The Ratline and The Last Colony. In 2016, his memoir East West Street: On the Ori ns of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.
The 64-year-old appeared on a panel at the 2025 Hay Festival, which has partnered with The Independent for a second year. He was joined by Swedish philanthropist Sigrid Rausing, academic Adam Rutherford, and The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew.
This story is from the June 02, 2025 edition of The Independent.
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