As the doctor in charge of Gorya's case, it falls to Andrei to tell his father, Vulkov, what the boy's best, indeed only, chance of survival is. The stakes are raised even higher as the two men meet.

Helen Dunmore's sequel to 'The Siege' read by Sara Kestelman.

Set ten years on, the starvation and bitter cold of the war years of Leningrad have been replaced with fear and suspicion. City residents do their best to keep their heads down and their lives unremarkable in an era of accusations, arrests and the midnight knock at the door.

Helen Dunmore (1952-2017) was the writer of 12 novels and 10 poetry collections winning several accolades for her work.

Abridged by Sally Marmion
Producer: Di Speirs

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010. Show less