When a noted historian produces a nearly complete collection of all of the primary documents of a culture whose language is as difficult and whose history is as unknown to the average American as Russia's, he deserves great thanks. Kudos, then, to Zenkovsky for excerpting or including in full all of the great medieval sources of Russian history. For the beginning student and the serious scholar of medieval (pre-Petrine) Russia, this is the place to start. A great book!

The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova are unique in that they are a first hand account of eighteenth century Russia from the point of view of a noblewoman close to the centers of power at the court of Catherine the Great. As all memoirs do, Dashkova's words present a particular bias-that of an intelligent and privileged upper-class woman in a deferential society who has an agenda she wishes to impress upon the reader. Yet within this memoir are glimpses of Russia in a time of radical and fast-paced changes, in some of which Dashkova herself has a hand.

It is difficult to credit Dashkova's convictions that she was the first to even conceive of the possibility of Catherine's overthrow of Peter III since Dashkova was eighteen and one of the younger members of Catherine's circle. Although Dashkova was a supporter of Catherine and did have a hand in the plot to over throw the czar, Catherine's memoirs imply that such a coup was envisioned long before the death of the Empress Elizabeth and that Catherine herself was merely waiting for the right moment to act. More plausible is the idea that Catherine had cultivated the young Princess purposely to have a ear in the Vorontsov camp. Dashkova's rendition of events would have her personally picking the conspirators, sending for Catherine's carriage, ordering the Orlovs to bring Catherine to speak to the regiments and almost single-handedly arranging the entire series of events. The most noteworthy point in this account of the coup of 1762 is the fact that it could take place at all in a monarchial state. That the Emperor with the appropriate Russian bloodline could be overthrown by his wife, a Princess of Germany, is remarkable in itself and speaks more of Catherine's perspicacity than of Dashkova or any other supporter.

Dashkova paints a picture of the Russian court under Catherine as both a place of sycophants and personal favor seekers and of great new ideas and plans for the state as a whole; of wealth and luxury taken for granted by the aristocracy while at the same time there are ongoing economic problems of national significance. Dashkova's Russia has two faces-that of an elegantly coifed and gowned Europeanized noblewoman and that of the peasant-serfs, themselves living in hovels, who out of gratitude for being allowed to work volunteer their labor so that she could build a fine house. The clearest impression of Dashkova and her contemporaries is that typical of the majority of eighteenth century aristocracy-of the disparity between the classes and of the general obliviousness of the upper-class to the misfortunes of the lower.

Dashkova's lesson to Diderot of the importance of serfdom-as a method by which the enlightened aristocracy protects the hapless peasants for their own good-gives a clear perspective of the hierarchy between the social classes in eighteenth century Russia. Whether the conversation actually took place is less believable than the fact that she, like the vast majority of Russian aristocracy, wholeheartedly subscribed to the theories of absolute sovereignty and enlightened despotism. Even less believable are Diderot's thanks to Dashkova for educating him on the advantages of serfdom. When she meets Voltaire she describes him as being infatuated with her and begging her not to leave. A possible explanation of Dashkova's need to portray herself as such a close confidante and friend to Diderot and Voltaire may lie in a desire to be seen in some respects as Catherine's equal.

The Princess portrays herself as a highly-educated liberal thinker about ideas she is not willing to put into practice; while at the same time her intention is obviously self-serving propaganda and a desire to share with her audience the esteem she feels she is held in by nearly everyone she meets. In one aside she states: "I would remind my readers that this will only appear after my death, so they cannot tax me with vanity because I repeat things as they were said." This intent to impress is typical of the Russian Court as a whole, especially in their pursuit of Western European approval.

To give Dashkova some benefit of the doubt it must be pointed out that much of the style of her writing, particularly the overt humility that comes across as insincere, is actually an affectation typical of women writers of the eighteenth century. For women to be accepted as authors or thinkers of any note was rare indeed, and most women of that period, whether writing on political issues like Mary Wollstonecraft or on women's lives like Frances Burney, found it necessary to preface much of what they had to say with some apologizing for simply being female. In that respect Dashkova's memoirs are fairly similar to some of her contemporaries. Where Dashkova must be taken with some skepticism is in those areas where her own accounts differ with the historical record and fortunately Jehanne Geith, Kyril Fitzlyon, and A. Woronzov-Dashkoff have done an admirable job of reporting such issues in the introduction, afterword, footnotes and index of the text. To them belongs the real praise for this fascinating glimpse into eighteenth century aristocratic Russia.

Popov shows us a glimpse into Russian society that we have never had before. His stories range from the ridiculous to the sublime, each one telling tales of life's absurdities and hilarities. Many stories discuss alcohol abuse in Russia and it's effects on the culture. The book begins with Five Stories about Vodka, five sad yet funny tales about the effects of drinking on the people and the state. Popov is highly recommended reading for me and I believe that anyone who has spent any time reading Russian literature, either classic or modern with find this writer refreshing and familiar.

THIS BOOK IS A WEALTH OF INFOMATION FOR THE AVIATION BUFF EXCELLENT INTERVIEWS W/MIKOYAN DESIGNERS,ENGINEERS,AND TEST PILOTS.GOOD PHOTOS AND UNBIASED TEXT,A MUST FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN SOVIET AVIATION AND DEVELOPMENT,GOOD INFOMATION ESPECIALLY FOR HOW NEW THIS AIRCRAFT WAS TO THE WESTERN/NATO
NATIONS AT THE TIME THIS BOOK WAS PRINTED,AGAIN HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

So, what if there is a drought and potatoes are scarce? Tante Golda makes the best latkes in all of Russia! But this year, instead of hosting her usual latke party on the first night of Hanukkah, she can only share the few latkes she can make from one potato with a beggar who appears at her door. Discouraged but still giving, Tante Golda says the Lord will provide.

This warm tale of a kind woman whose generosity shines during a time of deprivation tells a different kind of miracle tale. Give your children a taste of old Czarist Russia and the characters that people Tante Golda's town. Then mix up a batch of latkes yourself and enjoy: the recipe, in case you need one, follows the story.

Missio Moscovitica has an index. One reviewer is incorrect

I love this book, its fantastic, and it's just great. You get to go live with these village people, sorry I read this a while ago, I know the name of the charcaters...LOL Well, this is a wonderful adventrue of a young man, going to Circassia, and meeting all these interesting people, he journeys far, and meets good friends that will stay with him for a long time. He has a cute little pup, Flop.....I just have to say this author wrote the story full of interest, and fun.

This fascinating book written by Ravil Bukharayev is an excellent example of serious, scholarly approach to the subject of economic and political reform in post-Communist societies. This is a book that ought to be recommended to Vladimir Putin, the leader who is expected to continue the course of reforms in Russia. Tatarstan's example of slow but steady movement toward the market economy and democratic system ought to be emulated by Russia, which over the last 10 years stumbled from one crisis to another on its way to the same goal. President Shaimiyev's leadership in Tatarstan ensured a much more successful and effective transition to what Russia has been trying to achive without much success.

This book provides an excellent look at the current social andcultural aspects of Russian society as well as some historical background. The manner in which the well-researched information is presented is outstanding. For me, understanding the Russian culture was rather like being in a dark room. This book turned on the lights in that room. After reading Modern Russia, I felt very well informed about Russian society, past and present. I found the book to be a treasure of information.

Little is known regarding prisons located inside Russian Orthodox Monasteries for the incarceration of religious dissenters and sectarians, political activists and criminals. This book focuses on the history of such a prison system and the lives and convictions of the inmates subject to incarceration by Imperial Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. The period covered begins 1441, with the arrival of Isidore, the metropolitan of Moscow, to the Moscow Chudov (Miracles) Monastery for incarceration, and ends 1905, when the final inmates were released from the Suzdal Spasso-Evfimiev Monastery, coincident with the edict of religious toleration of Tsar Nicholas II. Likewise included are the women incarcerated in convents over the same period. This is a part of history that is unknown to the non-Russian speaking world and which the author hopes to unveil. With 11 photographs.