The tenacious Soviet defense of Stalingrad against a long siege by Nazi armies was one of the bloodiest episodes of the Second World War. In this book, sniper Vassili Zaitsev gives an on-the-ground account of what it was like to be one of Stalingrad's defenders, and describes how he and other Soviet troops survived in the most awful conditions. Zaitsev's prowess as a sniper is legendary--he is credited with at least 225 kills--and the tactics he developed are still studied today. Both moving and harrowing, this book will appeal to any reader interested in the Second World War. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)