FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2025

An Economist Book of the Year

'An astonishing story brilliantly told . . . It is as moving as it is gripping to read'
Jonathan Dimbleby, author of Endgame 1944

'A richly researched and meticulously observed account of a little-explored corner of 20th-century history'
Guardian

'A fantastically well-researched history of science and sacrifice saturated in drama'
i

WINNER OF THE CBHL LITERATURE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORY

In 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.

At 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?

Drawing on previously unseen sources, The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad tells 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.

'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'
Daily Telegraph

'A beautifully written account of one of the most extraordinary and little-known episodes of the Second World War - a scientific feat and act of collective self-sacrifice the consequences of which continue to be felt today'
Adam Higginbotham, author of Challenger

'A gripping, original and important story of courage and science in wartime'
Roland Philipps, author of A Spy Named Orphan

"Riveting . . . restores Vavilov and his scientific colleagues to their rightful places in the pantheon of Soviet heroes . . . remarkable" - Observer

"A history book as gripping as a thriller . . . Simon Parkin's account of the seedbank in The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad is extraordinary . . . striking narrative gold, he sets out this remarkable story in admirable detail, drawing upon fresh research sources . . . The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad is as gripping as it is absorbing throughout" - i

"Vivid . . . [an] engaging read for a general audience" - Times Literary Supplement

"A compelling account. I've read histories of the siege before, but few with such disarming immediacy . . . 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 - the men and women who were prepared to sacrifice all for the sake of a spud" - Daily Telegraph

"A richly researched and meticulously observed account of a little-explored corner of 20th-century history" - Guardian

"An extraordinary tale. Parkin gives us detailed, immersive scenes and his narrative is rich in dialogue . . . the story raises important issues about the extent to which scientific progress can justify social neglect, about the ethics of collection and curation, and about our responsibilities not only to each other, but also to future generations" - London Review of Books

"A fantastically well-researched history of science and sacrifice saturated in drama" - i

"Rich . . . [a] gripping, sensitive account" - Spectator

"Thank goodness for Simon Parkin who has unearthed the remarkable story of a clutch of scientists holed up in a converted palace in the city who were running effectively the world's first seed bank . . . an enthralling book" - New European

"[Parkin] deftly handles archive material, and spins out elegant prose" - Financial Times

"Award-winning author Simon Parkin vividly relates the tragic yet inspiring story of Vavilov and his team's dedication to the [seed bank] project . . . Using the diaries and letters of the botanists, as well as later-recorded oral histories, Parkin paints a suspense-filled record of this harrowing time in history" - Kirkus Review

"

A skilled storyteller and an exhaustive researcher . . . what a thing it is to read about near-insane levels of courage
under fire, all in a setting of unimaginable hardship

" - Irish Independent