An enlightened revenge – when memoir becomes a form of resistance in the absence of conventional justice.
We are honoured to invite you for the conversation with Lana Estemirova moderated by Anna Nemtsova on Sunday afternoon in Good Company Bookstore as they talk about writing a memoir, a personal testimony of injustice and war and a mother-daughter bond, a deeply human and heartwarming core of Lana's writing.
About the memoir
Please Live by Lana Estemirova is, first and foremost, a story of a mother–daughter bond forged under impossible circumstances. It traces Lana’s coming of age against the backdrop of the two devastating Russian–Chechen wars and an increasingly repressive regime. At its heart is the figure of her mother, Natalia Estemirova, whose courage and moral clarity shaped both her daughter’s life and this book.
Natalia documented war crimes and human rights abuses carried out by the Russian military in Chechnya, giving voice to the voiceless. When she herself became a victim of state violence, her murder went unpunished. This absence of justice, and the persistence of impunity, became one of the forces that compelled Lana to write -transforming memory into record, and grief into a form of resistance.
The question of justice and impunity remains urgently relevant in our present moment, where wars are waged with alarming ease and human lives are reduced to statistics. In conversation, Lana and Anna will explore the role that firsthand accounts play in restoring individuality and dignity to those affected by conflict. They will consider how, in the absence of conventional justice, storytelling can become both an act of defiance and a means of preservation - offering not only solace, but a form of accountability that refuses erasure.
About the author
Lana Estemirova is a writer and human rights advocate. Alongside her literary work, she has worked as a freelance journalist and was affiliated with the Justice for Journalists Foundation, which campaigns against attacks on the media. She is also the creator, host and producer of the podcast The Trouble with Truth, exploring the risks faced by journalists worldwide.
Her memoir, Please Live: The Chechen Wars, My Mother and Me, has received widespread critical acclaim for its intimate and unflinching portrayal of growing up during the Chechen wars and its exploration of memory, loss and justice.
She is currently working on her second book, a novel.
About the moderator
Anna Nemtsova is an award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent covering Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet states. She has reported on the region for over two decades, with her work appearing in international publications including The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Politico, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and NBC News.
She is a recipient of the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Award (2015) and a Pulitzer Center Persephone Miel Fellow (2012), recognising both her reporting and her commitment to covering underreported global stories.
Tickets for this event
The event is free to attend, but registration is obligatory to enter. Space is limited, grab your tickets quickly! Seating is available on the first come first serve basis.
Please be on time, the door will close at 4:15pm!
The Venue
Good Company Books is an independent English Bookstore in Lisbon. Born from our love of global literature and our Portuguese heritage, we are crafting a space for people of all backgrounds to gather and enjoy the best books, events, coffee, and wine. Find out more on our Instagram.
How To Find Us
By Metro: We're situated a 5-minute walk from the Campo Pequeno metro (Yellow line) and a 10-minute walk from the Alameda metro (Green & Red lines).
By Bus: There are many convenient bus options 2 blocks away from us on Avenida República, with the closest stop to our store being Campo Pequeno-Av. Republica.
By Bike: If you're using the Gira public bicycles, there is a docking station right across the street (#431 - Rua do Arco Cego / Av. Magalhães Lima).
By Car: There is a paid parking lot across the street, between Rua Arco do Cego and Rua Dona Filipa de Vilhena. Street parking is also available around the neighborhood.
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