The Volga

A rich and fascinating exploration of the Volga--the first to fully reveal its vital place in Russian history The longest river in Europe, the Volga stretches over three and a half thousand km from the heart of Russia to the Caspian Sea, separating west from east. The river has played a crucial role in the history of the peoples who are now a part of the Russian Federation--and has united and divided the land through which it flows. Janet Hartley explores the history of Russia through the Volga from the seventh century to the present day. She looks at it as an artery for trade and as a testing ground for the Russian Empire's control of the borderlands, at how it featured in Russian literature and art, and how it was crucial for the outcome of the Second World War at Stalingrad. This vibrant account unearths what life on the river was really like, telling the story of its diverse people and its vital place in Russian history.

Rivers figure prominently in a nation’s historical memory, and the Volga and Mississippi have special importance in Russian and American cultures. Beginning in the pre-modern world, both rivers served as critical trade routes connecting cultures in an extensive exchange network, while also sustaining populations through their surrounding wetlands and bottomlands. In modern times, “Mother Volga” and the “Father of Waters” became integral parts of national identity, contributing to a sense of Russian and American exceptionalism. Furthermore, both rivers were drafted into service as the means to modernize the nation-state through hydropower and navigation. Despite being forced into submission for modern-day hydrological regimes, the Volga and Mississippi Rivers persist in the collective memory and continue to offer solace, recreation, and sustenance. Through their histories we derive a more nuanced view of human interaction with the environment, which adds another lens to our understanding of the past.

The Volga River is the longest river in Europe and one of the most important rivers in Russia. This slow–moving waterway is home to a huge variety of plants and animals and has been a lifeline for various ethnic groups for thousands of years. From its humble beginnings in the Valdai Hills to its mouth at the Caspian Sea, the Volga has provided Russia’s people with food, transportation, power, drinking water, and much more. Its shores and cities have been the site of many historical events, most notably the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II, and faces many ecological challenges as it struggles to survive in the modern era. Learn about the “Mother Volga,” its people, its history, and its vital place in Russian culture in this fascinating story of a mighty river.

Contains an introduction to Russia's Volga river, tracing the history and geography of Europe's longest river, including a timeline of events, a bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.

Author combines travel writing with history and folklore as he travels along the Volga River in the heart of modern Russia.

A novel about the establishment of the German colonies along the Volga River near Saratov in the 18th century and the development of these colonies through the 19th century and up to the point of the Russian Revolution, drawn from historic source material.