Between East and West: the Origins of Modern Russia: 862-1953

An authoritative short history of Russia, from the mysterious origins of the nation-state to the death of Stalin A classic work now back in print for the first time since 1956 & mdash;and still regarded as one of the groundbreaking books on the subject & mdash;this narrative history of Russia was the first to encompass the myth-befogged beginnings of the nation-state, the rise and cataclysmic fall of tsarism, and the Spartan years of the U.S.S.R. Charques emphasizes three points of view: that autocracy has played a dominant role throughout all of Russian history; that serfdom is the fabric of Russia & rsquo;s social history; and that it is of paramount importance to recognize Russia & rsquo;s present regime under Putin and Medvedev as the latest phase in a long history of oppression.