{"product_id":"a-short-history-of-russia-how-the-worlds-largest-country-invented-itself-from-the-pagans-to-putin-9781335145703","title":"A Short History of Russia: How the World's Largest Country Invented Itself, from the Pagans to Putin","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eA \u003cem\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/em\u003e 2020 Title to Watch\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Terrific - and an amazing achievement to cover so much ground in such a short and wonderfully readable book.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e-Peter Frankopan, bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Silk Roads\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRussia's epic story told in an accessible, lively and short form, using the country's fascinating history to help us understand its actions today and what the future might hold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eA country with no natural borders, no single ethnic group, no true central identity, Russia has mythologized its past to unite its people, to justify its military decisions, and to signal strength to outsiders. Mark Galeotti takes us behind the myths to the heart of the Russian story, covering key moments such as: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003ethe formation of a nation through its early legends, including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ethe rise and fall of the Romanovs, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, Chernobyl and the Soviet Union\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ethe arrival of an obscure politician named Vladimir Putin and his ambitions for Russia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Short History of Russia\u003c\/em\u003e explores the history of this fascinating, extraordinary, desperate and exasperating country through two intertwined issues: the way successive influences from beyond its borders have shaped Russia, and the way Russians came to terms with this influence, writing and rewriting their past to understand their present and try to shape their future. In turn, this self-invented history has come to affect not just their constant nation-building project but also their relations with the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGaleotti, Mark:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Mark Galeotti is one of the most respected and provocative writers on Russia today. A historian and expert on modern Russia, he was educated at Cambridge University and the LSE, has taught and held academic leadership roles in the USA and UK, and worked as an adviser for the British Foreign Office. He is a prolific author with more than twenty books to his name, and briefs everyone from the State Department to Fortune 100 companies on understanding Russia.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Hanover Square Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681885589778,"sku":"9781335145703","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_65028c7b-ea23-4a9f-b939-a6904f49feb2.jpg?v=1733960012","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-short-history-of-russia-how-the-worlds-largest-country-invented-itself-from-the-pagans-to-putin-9781335145703","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}