- Paperback: 768 pages
- Publisher: Belknap Press; New edition edition (May 30 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0674011147
- ISBN-13: 978-0674011144
- Product Dimensions: 23.3 x 16.2 x 3.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 993 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #430,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
To demonstrate that Russia's recent political and socioeconomic problems do not mean that she "need no longer be taken seriously... as threat or as potential ally," Hosking ambitiously and diligently explores the nation's cycles of reform, censorship and expansion from A.D. 626 through the 2000 election of Prime Minister Putin. Hosking (The Awakening of the Soviet Union), professor of Russian history at the University of London, contends that resources stretched thin over a vast, disparate empire have prevented Russia from developing into a cohesive nation. A helpful introduction to Russia's topography and ecology, followed by chronological chapters such as "Kievan Rus, the Mongols, and the Rise of Muscovy" and "Soviet Society Takes Shape," with special attention to popular culture, academic trends and influential nonconformist thinkers, afford both survey and specifics. Some readers will find points of contention, as when Hosking reduces the profound impact of agricultural collectivization. For instance, he attributes the great Ukrainian famines of the 1930s, which many historians believe were purposefully exacerbated by the Soviet government, to "a dry summer" that yielded "an exceptionally poor grain harvest," without due analysis of other causes. Additionally, Hosking attributes the sharp increase of orphans during the 1930s primarily to civil war, collectivization and urbanization, noting, "clearly it was also linked to the legislative weakening of the family" (i.e., the legalization of abortion, civil marriage, divorce and equal property rights between men and women), without providing concrete evidence for this causality. But Hosking's immense knowledge and clear, concise analyses provide ample grist for university students and amateur historians. Illus., maps and tables not seen by PW.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.From Library Journal
Hosking (Russian history, Univ. of London) offers a comprehensive survey from the beginnings of Kievan Rus through Russia's recent independence, emphasizing the impact of relations between Russians and non-Russians. When Russia was "the largest empire on earth" in the mid-17th century, the imperial Rossiiskii and the ethnic Russkii held unresolved and conflicting ideals. No less fundamental were conflicts between Russia's peasant society and its industrialization, the "sacralizing of the monarchy," and the power of the Russian Orthodox Church. This cogent pre-Revolutionary interpretation nicely complements recent archival revelations from the Soviet era (e.g., census data showing that between 1939 and 1946 Russia's "global losses" amounted to some 47 million persons). Hosking claims that Gorbachev's "fundamental dilemma" was his dependence on implementing reforms of the very "patron-client network" he was hoping to replace. Although the author's earlier work, The First Socialist Society, is more focused, this book's strength lies in its revealing Russia's enduring continuities. The result compares favorably with some of the best Russian histories of recent decades while also consolidating new scholarship. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Zachary T. Irwin, Pennsylvania State Univ., Erie
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
And OK book,
By sebastian (Bogota, Colombia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Russia and the Russians: A History (Paperback)
Perhaps the book's biggest flaw is it's length in comparison to its content. My focus was mainly on the contemporary Russia - for it's the period I am more confident of. Regardless, Hosking seems to advocate for some right wing theories regarding the centralization of the Bolshevik state, at times giving some objective insight, and at times taking a personal stance in the issues.It's not the best Russian history book out there, not close to it. It's perhaps a good approach, a good beginning to understand the foundations of the Russian society and their culture, but I would not regard it as a magnificent work. Hosking seems to have done his homework. His research shows a lot of work and a lot of dedication. However, I see this book's legacy as a bit dubious, for the target it wants to reach doesn't match with the book's content.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best Russian history book available,
By Bill (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Russia and the Russians: A History (Paperback)
I may not have taken a course(s) on Russian history recently, but I believe I can tell a good book on Russian history when I read one. And this ain't one of them. Hosking's lack of organization, lack of scholarship in some chapters, and extremely tedious narrative style make this book uncomfortable to read. Some reviewers have suggested that since the history of Russia lacked direction during its course, this trait will inevitably be reflected in any attempt to analyze and chronicle the history of that country. The conclusion of this misguided speculation is that Russian history is difficult to narrate and we should therefore be happy reading what Mr. Hosking has produced for us. Although I agree that the history of Russia is indeed rich and complicated, nevertheless, one only has to look at all of the brilliant works that have been written on the subject in the past to see how well other historians have rendered this complex story in a clear and understandable manner. Examples include "Natasha's Dance" by Figes, "Russia under Western Eyes" by Mahlia, "Lenin's Tomb" by Remnick, and "A History of Russia" by Riasanovsky. I have yet to read a positive review on Hosking's "Russia and the Russians" that did not get mixed up by romanticizing the grandeur and the spectacle of Russian history, instead of focusing on the merits of the book. It makes me wonder whether those positive reviewers actually read the book.I am no expert on Russian history or culture, although I do consider myself an admirer. Since there are so many outstanding books available on the market that deal with the subject of this unique and mysterious country, I regret spending the time that I did on this three-star wonder. If you are looking for a good first book on Russian history, I would strongly encourage you to look elsewhere.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Intro to Russia,
By "rolihlahla82" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Russia and the Russians: A History (Paperback)
I read the other reviews and can see where they are coming from. This may not be a book for casual readers unfamiliar with the history of empires. It might be too long and not having enough direction (although I would argue--after reading this book--Russia as a country is really rather a country too big with not much direction as well). Russia is a difficult place to write about and I think the author did a superb job.(I might have a great advantage coming into reading this book that the other reviewers may not have had: I have taken 4 history classes in the last two years and took a year off from school to specifically studied where the world has come from to be what it is, which meant studying the ancient Mediterranean, Greece, Rome, Britain, America, Spain and other empires. Thus, my focus was on how Russia became an empire and the struggles of maintaining its empire and its rank in the world at the same time.) I found this book excellent because it gave me a greater understanding of a place I am fascinated by. An empire whose elite are Western-bred; whose inhabitants speak about 200 languages and are a mix of Orthodox and other Christians, Muslims, and secularists; a land covering more mass than any other modern country and which borders the EU, China, Mongolia, Central Asia, Korea, and is a stone throw away from Japan, Iran, Turkey, the USA, Canada; a country that was a recognized superpower competitive with the USA; and a country which is currently recovering and reeling at the same time because of disease, an inadequate welfare state, corruption, mobster rule, economic shock policies, and the after taste of Communism. This country and its people are fascinating and the author does a good job of explaining how Russia came to become an empire and how Russia, once an empire, reacted to the diversity of people, and its strange place in the middle of Euraisia as a glob of mixed people and mixed histories. Russia is still trying to attain progress and western permanence and to aquire an identity. Because Russia is such a diverse empire so unlike the relatively homogeneous American empire, it might be difficult for Americans that are casual readers to fully understand a book of this nature. I hope this review helps to encourage some to try and read this book because I feel it would be well worth it.
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