Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper

This translation of the memoirs of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the foremost female sniper in the Soviet Red Army in World War II, brings a gimlet-eyed, accomplished, and appealing figure to English-language readers. Pavlichenko fought in the early years of WWII, primarily in Ukraine and Crimea. She was the most proficient of the Red Army’s more than 2,000 female snipers, with 309 confirmed kills to her name. She was highly decorated and promoted, led her own combat platoon of male snipers, and, after a tour of the U.S. and Great Britain, served as a sniper instructor during the war’s latter years. Pavlichenko was a trained professional historian, which is reflected in the clarity of her prose and the accuracy of her descriptions. She was also an exceptional shooter; her understanding of the technology of weapons and shooting techniques is evident throughout. Finally, Pavlichenko was a young woman leading male soldiers during one of the most brutal wars in history, and her story can inform an understanding of women’s performance in combat. This illuminating memoir will interest readers seeking insights into the Soviet soldier experience, the U.S.S.R.’s relationships with its allies, and the role of women in Soviet Russia and its military—and even readers uninterested in those topics will enjoy spending time in Pavlichenko’s company. (May)