From the emergence of the first Slavic state to the conflict in Chechnya and the policies of Vladimir Putin, this is a concise yet thoughtful guide to the complex and turbulent history of Russia and its people.

Paying particular attention to the 300 years following the reign of Peter the Great , Abraham Ascher provides a skilful blend of detail and analysis for all the key points in Russian history, from the Bolshevik Revolution to the coup that ousted Gorbachev. Tying together the major events and trends in this coherent narrative is the theme of Russian identity, its effect on such major figures as Catherine the Great and Joseph Stalin, and its legacy in the post-Communist nation of the twenty-first century.

As both and indispensable reference tool and a sharply penetrating insight into Russia and its people, this introduction will prove useful and enlightening for students, scholars, and travellers alike.