A History of Russia: Vol. II Since 1855

Rating:
Summary: An easy and interesting read
Review: Written by a professor of history at Eastern Michigan State University, this book is chiefly concerned with the social, cultural and economic history of modern Russia. Military history is touched upon briefly and always with an eye on the social impact upon Russian society. World War I is discussed in only a few pages. World War II has its own chapter, but it is only 13 pages long. Education, religion, literature and the arts receive more attention than all military conflicts combined. This book is for readers looking for an overall picture of Russian life. Those individuals will be rewarded with briskly paced chapters that paint a rich picture of Russia. Even at 500+ pages I was never bored or tempted to skip through any sections. Since reading this book, current events in Russia seem perfectly comprehensible (almost inevitable). Each chapter ends with an extensive list of suggested readings and the general bibliography contains 12 pages of additional sources.