This is the first book I've read about life in the Soviet Union. I've learnt so much from it and I enjoyed the style very much!

Raya the protagonist left Russia for the USA as a young woman in the early nineties in search of a better future that is more aligned with her independent and ambitious nature. The book follows Raya's journey and offers very interesting insights into the ethos and culture of America and Russia in a reflective format. Interspersed with Raya's story are expositions of history and events to set the context of her story.

It was interesting to read the author's astute insights into the values, moral beliefs, and attitudes of the American and Russian society.

Presented as a fascinating mix of story-telling and political analysis, “About the Victor” offers unique insights into the Cold War, ultimately highlighting the fact that perspective is key to understanding winning and losing positions. Through Raya’s eyes, the modern Western presentation of the Cold War is challenged and readers are given the good as well as the bad from the perspective of those behind the Iron Curtain. For me, the writing style was a big draw card as it is honest to the point of brutality at times but always respectful and well balanced. The reader is forced to consider the reality of multi-culturalism and what this means in practical terms from the perspective of cultural minorities. A very clever way of presenting modern history in fictional form.