The Fire

A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE

A powerful, unflinching portrait of a generation fighting for change in Iran, Afghanistan, and Ukraine 

“Sala’s dispatches are as immersive and original as they are anthropologically probing... [They] come alive in ways that ordinary newspaper journalism rarely does.”—The New York Times Book Review

In The Fire, acclaimed journalist Cecilia Sala takes readers on a gripping journey through some of the world’s most volatile regions, from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. Through the eyes of young people like Kateryna, a Ukrainian soldier; Assim, an Iranian student at the forefront of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests; Nabila, a Muslim kickboxing champion and lesbian; and Zarifa, a political activist in Afghanistan, Sala offers an intimate portrayal of lives caught amidst turmoil and fighting for a better life.

By immersing herself in their worlds—in their daily lives and political battles—Sala crafts a poignant narrative that captures the human dimension of some of the world’s most intense conflicts. The Fire is a testament to the courage and hunger for freedom of a generation at the forefront of global change.

“In steady, unblinking prose, Cecilia Sala paints a sweeping portrait of young activists fighting for freedom around the world.”—Ms. Magazine