Good books on the history of russia

Nov 22, 2019 the history books we loved most in 2019 span centuries, nations and wars. If youre interested in wwii, i usually recommend ivans war by catherine merridale. I actually disagree with removing the fiction books. A few books are unmissable along the way and fiction is as vital as history. Jul 14, 2017 a whole stack of brilliant books make abundantly clear that putins russia is a land of political intrigue and suspicion, where conspiracy theories often turn out to be true, kompromat is the. For more than two centuries, and despite being situated in different hemispheres, the u. Jul 01, 2016 the wild cards story collections were created by a group of new mexico science fiction authors, pulled together and edited by game of thrones author george r. Top 10 books on vladimir putins russia i used fiction to depict the catastrophe that the president has inflicted on russia, but these terrifying stories about him. In todays russia, too, there is renewed interest in brushteins work, and since 2005, a new printing of the book by different publishers has appeared almost every two years. The five books on russia you should read providence. Two years ago, scholar maria gelfund published extensive annotations to the trilogy, on which the present article is based. A century after the bolsheviks captured the winter palace, we round up the most illuminating new releases tackling. Apr 20, 2016 top 10 books on vladimir putins russia i used fiction to depict the catastrophe that the president has inflicted on russia, but these terrifying stories about him include much nonfiction michael. Through the russian revolution by albert rhys williams.

The traditional startdate of specifically russian history is the establishment of the rus state in the north in 862 ruled by vikings. What makes these books so impressive is that at times it almost feels like they didthe books read so well you could think they were fiction. I was celebrating new years eve of 2000 with my high school friends. Jan 29, 2020 the 1917 revolutions may attract the most attention, but stalins dictatorship is an equally important subject for both russian and european histories. By one of americas most widelyread historians, david mccullough, 1776 tells a compelling and readable story about the year the united states of america became exactly that.

Accessible to students, tourists and general readers alike, this book provides a broad overview of russian history since the ninth century. Massive selection of new and used russian history books. Very minimal writing or notations in margins not affecting the text. These five books help develop a nuanced understanding of russia. The novel that introduced soviet jews to their forgotten. Jul 11, 2015 there are many decent and easy to read books about russia and russian history, but since russian history is very controversial topic which mainly composed of politically and ideologically charged interpretations, you should focus on understand. The best books to read on the russian revolution, a recommended list courtesy of the publishers. Yes, the manuscript was confiscated when it had just been written in 1960. In 882 prince oleg of novgorod seized kiev, thereby. The japanese kamikaze divine wind tactic was suggested on october 19, 1944, by viceadmiral onishi in an attempt to balance the technological advantage of invading american forces.

Considered one of the most important books written in. The russian empire collapsed on march 8, 1917, and the bolsheviks took power a few. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the guardian. The 10 of the greatest true stories ever writtenread. Oct, 2019 thanks for the a2a russia s sheer size has made it difficult to mobilize resources and to govern effectively, especially given its harsh climate, vast and vulnerable borders, and the diversity of its people. Many of those books actually have a lot to do with russian history.

Paul bushkovitch emphasizes the enormous changes in the understanding of russian history resulting from the end of the soviet union in 1991. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers. Which book should i read if im interested in russia and. The more you know about it, the more the messes make sense, both in a historical and modern context. The best recent book on the other great romanov emperor is catherine the great by simon dixon. History is messy stuff, but much of it is, in fact, not ugly. Some of those books describe serfdom and the russian culture better than many history books can. Russia relations the united states and russia have been in contact since the u. The 1917 revolutions may attract the most attention, but stalins dictatorship is an equally important subject for both russian and european histories. The first book youve chosen is a novel by someone whose work you know very well indeed the russian writer vasily grossman. Snodgrass, also a contributor to the series there is a secret history of the worlda history in which an alien virus struck the earth in the aftermath of world war ii, endowing a handful of.

The list offers suggestions of the best books to read, but being limited to one hundred books is not entirely. Most russian history books, including most of those listed on the rec list of this sub, focus on russia after the establishment of st petersburg andor the westernisation of russi at the very earliest. This novel has been named the first psychological novel in. While this list is not comprehensive, these five books are a good place. The ten best history books of 2019 history smithsonian. In case youve yet to be sunk by the deluge of coverage, you should know that the 100th anniversary of russias twin, momentous revolutions lands this year. But this is his novel, life and fate, which was considered highly controversial and banned in russia. That the storyteller was creating the story to fit their purposes and not the other way around. The colors and sounds of kandinskys abstract art, by barb rosenstock, illustrated by mary grandpre a 2015 caldecott honor recipient, the noisy paintbox tells the story of moscowborn vasily kandinsky. Having looked at these books again to write this, i feel i have to reread them all, theyre so good. Staraya ladoga and novgorod became the first major cities of the new union of immigrants from scandinavia with the slavs and finnougrians. The book is a centuriesspanning look at how debutantes and their rituals, from the antebellum south to modernday russia, have shaped marriage and womanhood in america and abroad. A concise history of russia cambridge concise histories. Extras indybest books nonfiction books 6 best russian history books.

Sep 07, 2016 the japanese kamikaze divine wind tactic was suggested on october 19, 1944, by viceadmiral onishi in an attempt to balance the technological advantage of invading american forces. To understand the relationship between the united states and russia, we need to first understand where it came from. Acquire your favorite russian history books at low prices. For 11 years, the soviet union had no weekends history.

Widely acclaimed as the best onevolume survey text available, a history of russia presents the whole span of russias history, from the origins of the kievan state and the building of an empire, to soviet russia, the successor states, and beyond. From womanhood to nationhood, they challenge the construction of identity and mythology. To see what stalin did to russia, the best book is anne applebaums gulag. Its a wellresearched, fascinating look at how the soviet union was affected and reacted to the german invasion and the four years of conflict that followed. This book is a good general history of the period and particular effort is made to place stalin in context with russia both before and after his rule, as well as with lenin.

Pages in category history books about russia the following 14 pages are in this category, out of 14 total. A whole stack of brilliant books make abundantly clear that putins russia is a land of political intrigue and suspicion, where conspiracy theories often turn out to be true, kompromat is the. Most russian history books, including most of those listed on the rec list of this sub, focus on russia after the establishment of st petersburg andor the. Does anyone have any books on russian or broadly slavic history focused on pre18th century events. Dominic lievens outstanding history russia against napoleon tells the real. There is a lot of decent historical fiction out there that can give you a good idea for a certain period in french history. Drawing on both primary sources and major interpretive works, this sixth edition updates its existing coverage of the social, economic, cultural. From womanhood to nationhood, they challenge the construction of identity. The best books on contemporary russia five books expert.

The book traces not only the political history of russia, but also developments in. Feb 15, 2017 9 books that can help you understand russia right now. This is a list of the greatest russian history books. So, needing a book to read is never an issue here the question is more about which book is best to start with. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. James meeks top 10 books of russia books the guardian. Lebedev, who was born in moscow in 1981, picks 10 books that explain russias complicated past and present. Books by russian authors are prized possessions in most households. Since then, new material has come to light on the history of the soviet era, providing new conceptions of russia s. Top 10 books on vladimir putins russia books the guardian.

In this new book, stanford history professor nancy kollmann looks at how russias early rulers, through peter the great and catherine the great. My goodness, some of these books helped propel the russian revolution. Though the numbers are disputed, approximately 2,800 kamikaze pilots died. The wild cards story collections were created by a group of new mexico science fiction authors, pulled together and edited by game of thrones author george r. The 100 best english and british history books provides a reading list for those serious about history.

Simon sebag montefiores recommended reading on russia and. Here are 12 books that will give you a good foundation to learning about russia and its history. Traveling through history in france gives a pretty good overview of the countrys history while spinning a decent yarn as the author travels through the country. The period of the renaissance to the present is the bulk of many european history courses in the english language world. Dec 21, 2019 history is messy stuff, but much of it is, in fact, not ugly. From mary beard on ancient rome to tales of soviet espionage, delve into the past with these recently published works. From early mongol invasions to tsarist regimes to ages of enlightenment and industrialization to revolutions and wars, russia is known not. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the. This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in september of 2015. Since then, new material has come to light on the history of the soviet era, providing new conceptions of russias. Dozens of books try to explain putin and his russia. A century after the bolsheviks captured the winter palace, we round up the most illuminating new releases tackling the. Bored with his studies of the traditional math, science and history, its not until an aunt gives him a box of paints that the young kandinsky finds his true passion.

Based on detailed archival research, she tells of the sudden arrests, the sham trials, the gruelling transportation, the hardships of labour camps, starvation and disease and also the way in which modern russia is unwilling to come to terms with them. Whether you are interested in russia by itself, or in. Oct 20, 2017 by one of americas most widelyread historians, david mccullough, 1776 tells a compelling and readable story about the year the united states of america became exactly that. Sergei lebedevs powerful debut novel, oblivion, in depicting the soviet prison work camps of the arctic north, poses a heartfelt challenge to those who prefer to forget this part of russian. The house of government is unlike any other book about the russian revolution and the soviet experiment. For the urban workforce of the soviet union, september 29, 1929, was a sunday like any othera day of rest after six days of labor. Widely acclaimed as the best onevolume survey text available, a history of russia presents the whole span of russia s history, from the origins of the kievan state and the building of an empire, to soviet russia, the successor states, and beyond. The history of russia begins with the histories of the east slavs. The best books to read on the russian revolution, a. Few good books have been written on the fascinating and unpredictable course of russian economic development. But of course, these books are history at its most interesting. Made up of modern works, it covers english and british history from the medieval period to the early modern and modern period. There are many decent and easy to read books about russia and russian history, but since russian history is very controversial topic which mainly composed of politically and ideologically charged interpretations, you should focus on understand. A hundred years after the russian revolution, history, according to most historians, had.

Not just for students, academics, or antiquity buffs, our selection of the top u. Id suggest a few works on the background of modern russian history from the revolution that ousted tsarist rule, through the lenin and stalin. Its big, packs in a lot, and the single author ties things together better than many multiauthor works. Discover the best historical russian fiction in best sellers. Thanks for the a2a russias sheer size has made it difficult to mobilize resources and to govern effectively, especially given its harsh climate, vast and vulnerable borders, and the diversity of its people. The history books we loved most in 2019 span centuries, nations and wars.