Andrei Sakharov, Elena Bonner and Friends: Life Was Typical, Tragic and Beautiful

The book that the reader holds in their hands is compiled in memory of Elena Georgievna Bonner, to whom the phrase "life was typical, tragic and beautiful" belongs in the subtitle. Most of our citizens know Elena Georgievna as the... wife of academician A.D. Sakharov, as his companion and assistant. This is understandable - they had to endure too many trials during the 20 years they were together. But the fate of Elena Georgievna goes beyond being the wife and companion of a great man. This is what this book is dedicated to, consisting of three sections: (I) A biography told through the montage of her own autobiographical texts and fragments of A.D. Sakharov's "Memoirs", (II) memories of E.G. Bonner, (III) a number of key documents and several articles by Elena Georgievna herself. Finally, in this section is a selection titled "My Mother's Favorite Poems" compiled by Tatiana Yankelovich: literature and, especially, poetry played a significant role in Elena Georgievna's life.