Biographical Note:
James Verini writes for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and National Geographic, among other publications. His journalism has received a National Magazine Award and a George Polk Award. He is the author of They Will Have to Die Now, about the battle that brought down ISIS.

Review Quotes:
" The Theater is a shocking book... It's the best kind of war reporting: you can't bear to read it but you really can't bear to put it down. Future journalists will study this book for lessons on how to do their jobs."
--Sebastian Junger, New York Times bestselling author of In My Time of Dying

Review Quotes:
"Impeccably reported, fantastically detailed, humane. Verini's book makes you care deeply about these people... He distills the full obscenity of Putin's invasion down to a single catastrophic moment."
--William Finnegan, Pulitizer Prize-winning author of Barbarian Days

Review Quotes:
"An essential read to understand the human cost of the largest war in Europe since 1945."
--Serhii Plokhy, author of The Gates of Europe

Review Quotes:
"Essential reporting about a defining atrocity of the Russo-Ukrainian War... Verini's informative interviews and no-nonsense prose bring us as close as possible to his subjects' experiences... An authoritative account of Russia's bombing of a shelter for displaced Ukrainians."
--Kirkus (starred review)

Review Citations:

• Booklist 04/01/2026 (EAN 9781668062203, Hardcover)
• Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2026 (EAN 9781668062203, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Contributor Bio:Verini, James
James Verini writes for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and National Geographic, among other publications. His journalism has received a National Magazine Award and a George Polk Award. He is the author of They Will Have to Die Now, about the battle that brought down ISIS.