"War in the Woods" by (current Estonian Prime Minister) Mart Laar is a spectacular retelling of a history many did no know existed. The book tells the story of the "forest brothers," partisan fighters in Estonia (and the other Baltic states) during the Soviet Occupation beginning 1944.
The book features countless narration from "forest brothers" themselves, taken in the late 1980s. Laar risked personal safety during this time collecting these stories, stories the Soviet Union never wanted people to hear.
The recounts conjure up difficult emotions and a sense of triumph, despite the impossible odds faced by the "forest brothers" against the occupying Red Army. Even for those not particularly interested in the history of the region, the book is a fascinating read. For regional history buffs, this is a must.
Some accuse Mart Laar of over-dramatising some of the sequences; however, the research which gives the book its meat brings forth the missing stories from a side that never had the chance to tell their story.
Now they finally have their chance, through the pen of the current Prime Minister of Estonia.