The Betrayal is the sequel to Helen Dunmore’s hugely successful historical novel The Siege, which was shortlisted for the 2001 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award and for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2002. The Betrayal sees lovers Andrei and Anna struggling against the deadly politics of Stalin’s Russia.

Leningrad, 1952. Andrei, a young hospital doctor and Anna, a nursery school teacher, are forging a life together in the post-war, post-siege wreckage. But their happiness is precarious, like that of millions of Russians who must avoid the claws of Stalin’s merciless Ministry for State security. So when Andrei is asked to treat the seriously ill child of a senior secret police officer, he and Anna are fearful. Trapped in an impossible, maybe unwinnable game, can they avoid the whispers and watchful eyes of those who will say or do anything to save themselves?

The Betrayal is a powerful and touching novel of ordinary people in the grip of a terrible and sinister regime, and a moving portrait of a love that will not be extinguished.

‘Beautifully crafted, gripping, moving, enlightening. Sure to be one of the best historical novels of the year’ Time Out

‘Scrupulous, pitch-perfect. With heart-pounding force, Dunmore builds up a double narrative of suspense’ Sunday Times

‘Magnificent, brave, tender. . . with a unique gift for immersing the reader in the taste, smell and fear of a story’ Independent on Sunday

Novelist and poet Helen Dunmore has achieved great critical acclaim since publishing her first adult novel, the McKitterick Prize winning, Zennor in Darkness. Her novels, Counting the Stars, Your Blue Eyed Boy, With Your Crooked Heart, Burning Bright, The Siege (Shortlisted for the 2001 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award and for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2002), A Spell of Winter, House of Orphans, Mourning Ruby and Talking to the Dead, and her collection of short stories Love of Fat Men are all published by Penguin. Helen also writes for children, her titles include The Deep and Ingo.

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