Review by Choice Review
This book offers an engaging introduction to the history of Russia, focusing on myths and narratives about the past and their roles in shaping notions of belonging, identity, and destiny. As Figes (Birkbeck, Univ. of London, UK) emphasizes, "Russia is a country held together by ideas rooted in its distant past, histories continuously reconfigured and repurposed to suit its present needs and reimagine its future" (p. 6). The book's 11 chapters, organized chronologically, emphasize continuities over time in their treatment of such topics as the contested claims of today's Russian and Ukrainian states to the legacy of the medieval polity of Kyivan (Kievan) Rus, the development of autocracy, Russia's relationship with the so-called West, the Bolshevik destruction of so-called Old Russia in the Revolution and the subsequent embrace of Russian nationalism under Stalin, and President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. The details of Russian history are notoriously challenging for newcomers to the subject, but Figes does an impressive job synthesizing a vast range of topics and information in a clear, accessible manner, enlivened by memorable details throughout. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers through graduate students. --Mark A. Soderstrom, Aurora University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"No other country has reimagined its past so frequently," writes historian Figes (The Europeans) in this rich and immersive look at how Russia's national myths are "continuously reconfigured and repurposed to suit its present needs and reimagine its future." Examining Kievan Rus ruler Grand Prince Vladimir's baptism into the Eastern Orthodox Church in 988 and Moscow's emergence, in Russian Orthodox Church doctrine, as the "last true seat of the Christian faith" after the fall of Constantinople in the 15th century, Figes asserts that Russia's leaders have used these and other legends to rewrite history according to their political agendas. He also details how Catherine the Great supported claims that Russians were descended from Vikings in order to defend autocracy and promote her imperialist ambitions, and traces the mystical notion of the "Russian soul"--"a universal spirit of Christian love and brotherhood innate only in the Russian people, whose providential mission was to save the world from egotism, greed and all the other Western sins"--to Nikolai Gogol's novel Dead Souls. Figes's fluid prose ("Nobles gave up Clicquot and Lafite for kvas and vodka, haute cuisine for cabbage soup," he quips in describing how Russian aristocrats reacted to the French Revolution) keeps the jam-packed narrative from getting bogged down in intricate historical matters. Russophiles will savor this illuminating survey. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The divisive Ukraine War and Vladimir Putin's intentions are clarified by Russia's past. Grand Prince Vladimir ("Volodymyr" to Ukrainians) ruled the first iteration of the Russian state, Kievan Rus, founded in 988, which united the modern nations of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. When Putin refers to military actions towards Belarus and Ukraine, his motives are to reunite the lands of Russia lost in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It's also a reinforcement of a long-held reciprocal aristocratic system, where Putin's oligarchs are dependent upon him for their wealth, and he in turn receives their political support. Sadly, these historical justifications for war cannot be verified. Very little contemporary history is recorded and is often skewed to the country of origin. Russia's history is ill-defined, a narrative bent towards the needs of the sitting ruler. Figes (history, Birkbeck Coll., London Univ.; The Europeans) remains an authoritative interpreter of Russian history, distilling complex and disputed facts into an engrossing narrative. Even veteran and informed historians will be edified by this scholarly tome. VERDICT A necessary addition to Russian history collections and required reading for those wanting to understand the dispute over Ukraine.--Jessica A. Bushore
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An expert on Russia delivers a crucially relevant study of a country that has been continuously "subjected to the vicissitudes of ruling ideologies." Wolfson History Prize winner Figes, one of the world's leading authorities on Russian history and culture, shows how, over centuries, Russian autocrats have manipulated intertwined layers of mythology and history to suit their political and imperial purposes. Regarding current affairs, the author argues convincingly that to understand Putin's aggressive behavior toward Ukraine and other neighboring nations, it is essential to grasp how Russia has come to see itself within the global order, especially in Asia and Europe. Figes emphasizes the intensive push and pull between concepts of East and West since the dubious founding of Kievan Rus, "the first Russian state," circa 980. Russia's geography meant it had few natural boundaries and was vulnerable to invasion--e.g., by the Mongols--and its mere size often required strong, central military control. It was in Moscow's interests to increase its territorial boundaries and keep its neighbors weak, a strategy still seen today. Figes explores the growth of the "patrimonial autocracy" and examines how much of the mechanics of the country's autocracy, bureaucracy, military structure, oligarchy, and corruption were inherited from three centuries of Mongol rule. From Peter the Great to Catherine the Great to Alexander II (the reformer who freed the serfs) and through the Bolsheviks to Stalin: In most cases, everything belonged to the state, and there were few societal institutions to check that power. "This imbalance--between a dominating state and a weak society--has shaped the course of Russian history," writes the author in a meaningful, definitive statement. Today, Putin repudiates any hint of Westernizing influences (Peter the Great) while elevating the Eastern (Kievan Rus, the Orthodox Church). In that, he is reminiscent of Stalin, who recognized the need for patriotic fervor and national myths and symbols to unite and ensure the oppression of the masses. A lucid, astute text that unpacks the myths of Russian history to help explain present-day motivations and actions. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
