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About The Book

The powerful and moving memoir of a fearless political opposition leader who paid the ultimate price for his beliefs.

Alexei Navalny began writing Patriot shortly after his near-fatal poisoning in 2020. It is the full story of his life: his youth, his call to activism, his marriage and family, his commitment to challenging a world super-power determined to silence him, and his total conviction that change cannot be resisted—and will come. 

In vivid, page-turning detail, including never-before-seen correspondence from prison, Navalny recounts, among other things, his political career, the many attempts on his life, and the lives of the people closest to him, and the relentless campaign he and his team waged against an increasingly dictatorial regime. 

Written with the passion, wit, candor, and bravery for which he was justly acclaimed, Patriot is Navalny’s final letter to the world: a moving account of his last years spent in the most brutal prison on earth; a reminder of why the principles of individual freedom matter so deeply; and a rousing call to continue the work for which he sacrificed his life.

“This book is a testament not only to Alexei’s life, but to his unwavering commitment to the fight against dictatorship — a fight he gave everything for, including his life.

Through its pages, readers will come to know the man I loved deeply — a man of profound integrity and unyielding courage.

Sharing his story will not only honor his memory but also inspire others to stand up for what is right and to never lose sight of the values that truly matter.”

Yulia Navalnaya

• Audiobook: Published by Penguin Audio on 22 October 2024 (16h 46m)
• Hardback: Published by Bodley Head on 22 October 2024 (496p)
• Digital: Published by Vintage Digital on 22 October 2024 (481p)
• Paperback: Published by Vintage on 19 June 2025 (496p)

Patriot – A Memoir – by Alexei Navalny
Arch Tait (Translator) and Stephen Dalziel (Translator) Matthew Goode (Narrator)

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About Alexei Navalny

Alexei Navalny (1976–2024) was a Russian lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and the most prominent opposition figure to President Vladimir Putin’s government. He became internationally known for exposing high-level corruption in Russia and for his unwavering commitment to political reform, despite repeated arrests, imprisonment, and attempts on his life.

In 2020, Navalny survived a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning and later chose to return to Russia, where he was immediately arrested and imprisoned. He continued to speak out from prison until his death in February 2024.

Patriot is his final work — a deeply personal memoir written in the shadow of persecution, offering insight not only into his political struggle but also into his family life, beliefs, and enduring faith that change is possible.

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My Review

Listening to Patriot was an emotionally devastating experience — one that broke my heart repeatedly and left me sitting in silence long after the final chapter ended.

Alexei Navalny began writing this memoir after surviving a near-fatal poisoning in 2020, and knowing how his story ultimately ends makes every word feel heavier. This is not just a political memoir; it is a deeply personal account of a man who chose to live — and die — by his convictions.

Throughout the audiobook, I found myself asking the same question again and again: why did he go back to Russia? After surviving an assassination attempt, after having the chance to stay safe, why return to a country that was so clearly determined to silence him?

There is no easy answer, and Navalny never pretends there is one. What comes through instead is his absolute belief that change is inevitable — and that it must be fought for, no matter the cost. That belief is both inspiring and deeply unsettling.

As a listener, I felt conflicted. On one hand, I couldn’t help but think of his wife and children, and wonder whether continuing the fight was, in some ways, selfish. On the other hand, it is clear that Navalny believed he was fighting for them — for a future in which they could live in a freer, fairer country. That moral tension sits at the very heart of this book, and it is impossible to ignore.

I don’t claim to have a deep understanding of Russian politics, and Patriot doesn’t require that of its readers. What it asks instead is that we bear witness. Navalny writes with wit, warmth, and astonishing courage about prison life, about fear, about love, and about the people closest to him who paid their own price for his resistance. The inclusion of his prison correspondence makes the story feel painfully immediate.

I tend to avoid major world news because of anxiety — focusing on events I cannot change can quickly feel overwhelming. But this book felt different. It reminded me that behind every headline is a human life, and that choosing not to look doesn’t make those stories disappear.

There is something particularly powerful about hearing this memoir in audio form. Knowing that these are effectively Navalny’s final words to the world makes the experience feel intimate and urgent — as though he is speaking directly to the listener, asking them not to forget.

Patriot is heartbreaking, frightening, and profoundly moving. It is a reminder of how fragile individual freedom can be, and how much courage it takes to stand against authoritarian power. This is not an easy listen, but it is an important one — and one I will not forget.

#AlexeiNavalny #Patriot #BookReview #NonFiction #Political #WorldPolitics

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DISCLOSURE: I purchased this book myself. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own.

© [2025] [MoMoBookDiary]. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.