Modern Russian

A course book aimed at students of Russian who have some previous knowledge of Russian.

Russia's size, the diversity of its peoples and its unique geographical position straddling East and West have created a culture that is both inward and outward looking. Its history reflects the tension between very different approaches to what culture can and should be, and this tension shapes the vibrancy of its arts today. The highly successful first edition of Rzhevsky's Companion has been updated to include post-Soviet trends and new developments in the twenty-first century. It brings together leading authorities writing on Russian cultural identity, its Western and Asian connections, popular culture and the unique Russian contributions to the arts. Each of the eleven chapters has been revised or entirely rewritten to take account of current cultural conditions and the further reading brought up to date. The book reveals, for students, academic researchers and all those interested in Russia, the dilemmas, strengths and complexities of the Russian cultural experience.

A full and authoritative illustrated history of Russia's army since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, including Air Assault and Navy ground forces. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's army has undergone a turbulent transformation, from the scattered left-overs of the old Soviet military, through a period of shocking decay and demoralization, to the disciplined force and sophisticated 'hybrid war' doctrine that enabled Vladimir Putin to seize Crimea virtually overnight in 2014. Using rare photographs and full colour images of the army in action, profiles of army leaders and defence ministers, as well as orders of battle and details of their equipment and dress, this is a vivid account of the army's troubled history and of its character, capabilities and status. Written by an internationally respected author with remarkable access to Russian-language sources and Russian veterans, this study is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the growing power of Russia's military.

This is the first book in a series of Russian language learning books.

Modern Russian History: The Search for National Identity and Global Power exposes readers to the rich history of Russia, emphasizing the major forces and factors that shaped its development as a nation and an empire. Students are encouraged to draw connections between influential forces and factors, both historical and contemporary, to better understand Russia's past and current strategic goals, as well as the Russian sense of identity and place in global society. The opening chapter introduces key themes and factors of Russian history, including the physical setting; the role of the autocratic state; the institution of serfdom; the multinational empire; and the West, each of which represent challenges and opportunities the Russian people and the nation's rulers have encountered over time. The book features five distinct parts, which proceed in chronological order and cover late imperial Russia, the 1917 Russian revolutions, the creation of the USSR, the Cold War and tensions with the United States, and post-Soviet Russia and modern events. Modern Russian History is part of the Cognella History of Europe Series, a collection of textbooks that help students discover the power, influence, and dynamic nature of European countries and their histories. Roxanne Easley is a professor of history at Central Washington University. She holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Russian history from the University of Oregon. Mark Davis Kuss is a professor of history and political science at the University of Holy Cross. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Louisiana State University, J.D. from the Tulane University School of Law, and M.A. in history from the University of New Orleans. Thomas Pearson is a professor of history at Monmouth University. He holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Russian history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This volume is the first comprehensive study of the “conservative turn” in Russia under Putin. Its fifteen chapters, written by renowned specialists in the field, provide a focused examination of what Russian conservatism is and how it works. The book features in-depth discussions of the historical dimensions of conservatism, the contemporary international context, the theoretical conceptualization of conservatism, and empirical case studies. Among various issues covered by the volume are the geopolitical and religious dimensions of conservatism and the conservative perspective on Russian history and the politics of memory. The authors show that conservative ideology condenses and reworks a number of discussions about Russia’s identity and its place in the world. Contributors include: Katharina Bluhm, Per-Arne Bodin, Alicja Curanović, Ekaterina Grishaeva, Caroline Hill, Irina Karlsohn, Marlene Laruelle, Mikhail N. Lukianov, Kåre Johan Mjør, Alexander Pavlov, Susanna Rabow-Edling, Andrey Shishkov, Victor Shnirelman, Mikhail Suslov, and Dmitry Uzlaner

Drawing together episodes of rich atmosphere, this novel is as deep and brooding as the Paris nights that serve as its backdrop. Russian writer Gaito Gazdanov arrived in Paris, as so many did, between the wars and would go on, with this fourth novel, to give readers a crisp rendering of a living city changing beneath its people’s feet. Night Roads is loosely based on the author’s experiences as a cab driver in those disorienting, often brutal years, and the narrator moves from episode to episode, holding court with many but sharing his mind with only a few. His companions are drawn straight out of the Parisian past: the legendary courtesan Jeanne Raldi, now in her later days, and an alcoholic philosopher who goes by the name of Plato. Along the way, the driver picks up other characters, such as the dull thinker who takes on the question of the meaning of life only to be driven insane. The dark humor of that young man’s failure against the narrator’s authentic, personal explorations of the same subject is captured in this first English translation. With his trademark émigré eye, Gazdanov pairs humor with cruelty, sharpening the bite of both.