Description

Russia is a country of contradictions: a nation of cultural refinement and artistic originality and yet also a country that rules by the iron fist . In this riveting history, Martin Sixsmith shows how Russia s complex identity has been formed over a thousand years, and how it can help us understand its often baffling behaviour at home and abroad.

Combining in-depth research and interviews with his personal experiences as a former BBC Moscow correspondent, Sixsmith skilfully traces the conundrums of modern Russia to their roots in its troubled past, and explains the nation s seemingly split personality as the result of influences that have divided it for centuries.

A Sunday Times bestseller, Russia is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex political landscape of this country, and its unique place in the modern world.