Impressive and deeply immersive.

Orlando Figes provides valuable lessons about the importance of mythologizing the country’s past in his sweeping new survey of Russian history.

Inevitably in a survey of more than 1,000 years of history, much has had to be skirted over or omitted. But this book’s purpose is not to fill in all the blanks. It is to examine the recurring themes and myths that drive Vladimir Putin’s conviction that war with Ukraine and with western Europe is part of Russia’s historical destiny. For those unfamiliar with the past, this is an indispensable manual for making sense of Russia’s present.

Methodical.

... detailed, astute and compelling.

... a useful, compact survey.

Excellent..

Could not be more timely or informative.

An expert on Russia delivers a crucially relevant study.

Rich and immersive.