{"product_id":"9781399714587-the-forbidden-garden-of-leningrad","title":"The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA True Story of Science and Sacrifice in a City under Siege\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA gripping untold story of the world's most valuable seed bank, the siege of Leningrad and a terrible choice\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u0026amp; THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An astonishing story brilliantly told . It is as moving as it is gripping to read'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJonathan Dimbleby, author of \u003ci\u003eEndgame 1944\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A richly researched and meticulously observed account of a little-explored corner of 20th-century history'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A fantastically well-researched history of science and sacrifice saturated in drama'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ei\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER OF THE CBHL LITERATURE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORY\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the summer of 1941, German troops surrounded the Russian city of Leningrad - now St Petersburg - and began the longest blockade in recorded history. By the most conservative estimates, the siege would claim the lives of three-quarters of a million people. Most died of starvation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the centre of the embattled city stood a converted palace that housed the greatest living plant library ever amassed - the world's first seed bank. After attempts to evacuate the collection failed, and as supplies dwindled, the scientists responsible faced a terrible decision: should they distribute the specimens to the starving population, or preserve them in the hope that they held the key to ending global famine?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing on previously unseen sources, \u003ci\u003eThe Forbidden Garden of Leningrad \u003c\/i\u003etells the remarkable and moving story of the botanists who remained at the Plant Institute during the darkest days of the siege, risking their lives in the name of science.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A compelling account .  a remarkable work of literary exhumation. The first full account of the Plant Institute in any language, it's a fitting testimony to an extraordinary project and the bravery of the ordinary individuals who kept it going'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A gripping, original and important story of courage and science in wartime'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRoland Philipps, author of \u003ci\u003eA Spy Named Orphan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55307307123062,"sku":"9781399714587","price":9.42,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_35736896.jpg?v=1755763387","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781399714587-the-forbidden-garden-of-leningrad","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}