Russia and the Russians: From Earliest Times to the Present
by Geoffrey Hosking
(Second edition, Penguin, 2012)
A thoughtful and sophisticated analysis of how the relationship between the rulers of Russia (and the Soviet Union) and Russian society has evolved, from the mid-16th century to the Putin era.
Empire: The Russian Empire and its Rivals
by Dominic Lieven
(John Murray, 2000)
An exceptionally wide-ranging comparative study of the Russian empire with contemporary powers such as the Austrian, Ottoman and British empires. This comprehensive text covers geopolitics, the nature of rule, political structures, the economy, the military, society and culture.
The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture
by James H Billington
(Vintage Books, 1966)
First published in 1966, this impressive coverage of the history of religion, culture,…
