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AQA History is the only series of resources developed with and exclusively endorsed by AQA, providing teachers with complete confidence that they have everything they need to deliver AQA's new AS History specification. ... Read more

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This work aims to examine the history of forced and semi-voluntary population movements within or organized by the Soviet Union. Contents range from the early 1920s to the rehabilitation of repressed nationalities in the 1990s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source
An excellent edition to literature on the period of Stalin.Factual information broken down into time periods that show which populations Stalin and the NKVD targeted and why.It shouldn't be thought that Stalin was the only one involved in these tragedies that befell the various nationalities of the USSR, he had his reasons for his actions and they are listed and presented to the reader.Not to take away from the type of man he was, simply to understand that his actions had a cause.A great source to see all the nationalities that were touched by Stalin's forced 'migrations' from lesser known nationalities such as Iranians, Turks, Koreans, and Germans to more well known Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Chechens, and so on and so forth.An invaluable source for numbers of those deported, reasons for their deportations, and what happened to them after they were deported. ... Read more

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With the outbreak of war in the former Yugoslavia in 1991, interest in Balkan history has increased and become emotionally charged. This balanced and engagingly written history of Serbia will help readers to understand the complex web of Serbian history, politics, society, and culture and how the Serbs have dealt with the many political, military, and socioeconomic challenges in their history. It attempts to remove the veil of stereotypes and myths obscuring the significant details and developmental processes in the history of Serbia and in its relations with its neighbors. In addition to examining the political history of Serbia in the context of Central Europe, the author, a specialist in Balkan history, shows how societal and cultural developments affected Serbian history and reflected political and economic events. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

excellent job
The book came 2 weeks earlier than said and it was in promissed (very good) condition. Excellent job!

Passable Introduction to Serbian History
With the difficulty of finding an introduction to Serbian history that is both brief and unbiased, this book should serve as a passable introduction to Serbian history.Cox does an excellent job of condensing a large and complex history into a very short space.

Unfortunately, much of the history is too condensed.Cox spends far too much time discussing recent events at the expense of the richness and variety of early Serbian history and the historical and ethnic connections between Serbs and other Slavs in Southeast Europe.Only about half the book covers the history of Serbia prior to the Twentieth Century.With so much material available and such an underemphasis on the older history of Serbia, I wonder if this book should be renamed "The Twentieth Century History of Serbia."

Cox also overcompensates when trying to keep individual pieces of history from being co-opted by nationalist Serbian propagandists.For instance, during his discussion of the Turkish practice of exacting a "blood tax" (Serbian children were taken from their parents and sent to Turkey to be raised as Muslim Turks), he opines that the practice shouldn't be viewed too negatively as it allowed poorer children to have more material goods.While this may be true, it is clear the Turks were not abducting children for altruistic purposes, nor am I convinced that many of the abductees' parents were happy with the practice.

While the book is not overly polemical, its lack of historical depth for the space available keeps it from being everything it can be.Still, it is a worthwhile and easy read for those needing a quick introduction to Serbian history. ... Read more

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For sophomore/graduate-level courses in History of Soviet Russia, and Russia Since the Revolution.Widely hailed as the best concise history of Soviet Russia, and rich in maps, tables, and basic statistical data - this text offers holistic coverage of the last phase of the Tsarist regime, the ideololgical roots and origins of the Soviet regime, its establishment in power at the close of 1917, its evolution up to 1991, its disintegration, and the current Russian Federation. ... Read more

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Highly acclaimed and thoroughly updated, Return to Diversity, Fourth Edition, provides a comprehensive political history of East Central Europe from World War II to the present. An engaging and straightforward political narrative, the book is organized chronologically in a country-by-country format that students can easily navigate. Each section summarizes and examines the most important themes in Eastern Europe during the rise and fall of Communism. The text features balanced discussions of relevant political events, along with a detailed analysis of the causes and consequences of Communism from the perspective of post-Communist regimes.

Nancy M. Wingfield has revised the fourth edition to incorporate additional social and economic history into the text's strong discussions of political history. She also provides expanded coverage of the resurgence of nationalism in the 1980s, the role of dissident movements in the shift to democracy, and the problems of Communism. To make the region's history even more relevant to students, Return to Diversity now concludes with a compelling look at the contemporary reintegration of the "new" and "old" Europes.

Unsurpassed in scope, depth of analysis, and objectivity, Return to Diversity continues to be an invaluable resource for both professors and students of this region's vivid political history. ... Read more

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The Caucasus mountains rise at the intersection of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. A land of astonishing natural beauty and a dizzying array of ancient cultures, the Caucasus for most of the twentieth century lay inside the Soviet Union, before movements of national liberation created newly independent countries and sparked the devastating war in Chechnya.

Combining riveting storytelling with insightful analysis, The Ghost of Freedom is the first general history of the modern Caucasus, stretching from the beginning of Russian imperial expansion up to the rise of new countries after the Soviet Union's collapse. In evocative and accessible prose, Charles King reveals how tsars, highlanders, revolutionaries, and adventurers have contributed to the fascinating history of this borderland, providing an indispensable guide to the complicated histories, politics, and cultures of this intriguing frontier. Based on new research in multiple languages, the book shows how the struggle for freedom in the mountains, hills, and plains of the Caucasus has been a perennial theme over the last two hundred years--a struggle which has led to liberation as well as to new forms of captivity. The book shedsvaluable light on the origins of modern disputes, including the ongoing war in Chechnya, conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan, and debates over oil from the Caspian Sea and its impact on world markets.
Ranging from the salons of Russian writers to the circus sideshows of America, from the offices of European diplomats to the villages of Muslim mountaineers, The Ghost of Freedom paints a rich portrait of one of the world's most turbulent and least understood regions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good Overview of a Complex Region
The main historical focus of this book is the late 1700s to early 2000s. Like other reviewers this somewhat dissapointed me. The Caucasus play a role going all the way back to the Greeks and further. Little information is given regarding these earlier times that I did not encounter in other books. In my opinion this is ultimately why the book is lacking: everything is predicated on ethnic and national identities but the reader cannot relate fully to the experience.

Admittedly this is a tough region to write about, similar to the Balkans in some ways. The author does a good job looking at all sides of the issues. The book really excels when discussing the imperial Russian methods for control of the Caucasus in the 1800s. Much insight into a topic I knew little about.

Another great topic was the Mensheviks and the rise of socialist ideas in places like Georgia. Stalin is covered in depth and fleshed out very well to Mr. King's credit. The author does a decent job with current events up to around 5 or 6 years ago. Both Chechen wars are discussed as part of the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union.

One glaring ommision for me: the Armenian genocide. For many Americans this is the single biggest historical event relating to the Caucus region. The author leads up to it, gives a page summary of how the Armenians and Turks view it differently, and then the fallout of the Armenian diaspora. The event itself is simply not covered in any depth... completely baffling. Does the author expect us to go out to Wikipedia or something?

Also in discussion of the slave trade, especially in relation to the Ottoman Empire. The idea is that somehow many of these slaves were better off leaving the Caucasus and being sold off in Constantinople. Really? Bear in mind that Mr. King is not the only author pushing this "different type of slavery" idea. Fundamentally I cannot conceive of watching my daughter go off to be part of a harem. I am currently reading the book Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World which does not shy away from the brutality of the slave trade - especially that of the Turks.

Overall a good book on a complex subject.

The Ghost of Freedom
A good read - full of information and fast moving.It is a bit dry, but if you are looking to learn about the region, it is a good choice.

An Excellent Introduction
Considering the Caucasus region is one of the most misunderstood (which could just as easily be the delibarate result of bias as the accidental result of how confusing it all really is) places historically, this extensively-reserached book provides the most powerful insights into causes, effects, and what can be done.

Sometimes a Tough Read, But Always Informative...
Not an easy read at times, at least with my simple mind, but an exceptionally fascinating, interesting and well-written one. Charles King takes a look at the recent history of the Caucasus, focusing on the conquest of the area by the Russians, the Soviet era and the post-Soviet era.

He truly does condense a great deal of information into this book, and I admit there were parts I skimmed quickly as it was all so overwhelming: people and places that I could not recall, remember or simply take in. But despite this, which may be a fault of mine, what I did learn and what I did read was intriguing, educational and a joy to read. I'll definitely be trying to find a book on the earlier history of the Caucasus as it is such a fascinating region.

Comprehensive Treatment of the Caucasus Region since the Middle 18th Century
Frankly, I found this book well written but on such a complex subject that it was difficult to keep in mind all the ethnic players, their situations, politics, languages and characteristics from page to page.It may be an easy read, but difficult to comprehend.I noticed that none of the other reviewers attampted to offer a brief synopsis of the chapters or contents.I won't either, since I have no idea how to briefly state what the author does in many pages and where everything seems to be in flux.

At one time the Muslim Circassians take one side and the Christian Armenians another, then twenty years later everything is reversed.I found the hodge-podge of ethnic enclaves and large number of languages, some very different from the others, various political orientations, attitudes toward slavery (that continued into the 20th century), unique off-shoots of Islam and Christianity that often seem pagan or animistic, fascinating but difficult to grasp in a single book (or in a single course of study.)The Caucasus makes the Balkans seem trivial in comparison.

Nonetheless, this work is extremely useful in bringing the reader up to date on the region and giving him an appreciation of its history and complexity.One can readily see that to choose sides is to make enemies, and with states and borders having been very recent inventions, one is cautioned to tread lightly here with one's western ideas and concepts.

I was sorry to see that the book does not go back to ancient times as the history of the Armenians and Georgia are particularly fascinating.The Armenians were a substantial power from 260BCE to 72 CE, then again from 1048 to 1375 CE.Tigranes II and later Levon I were powerful rulers and the Armenians have survived until today with their great heritage and history providing a continual source of pride.

Georgia produced one of the great warrior queens of history, Queen Tamara, from 1184 to 1212.During that time she brought Georgia to its golden age, and folklore abounds still today in the Caucasus with tales of her prowess.

More currently, the genocide inflicted on the Armenians during World War I by the Turks lays heavy on the land and prevents Turko-Armenian reconcillation.The Chechens have defied Moscow since the advent of the Soviet Union, and their resistance today is a factor of everyday life.The Ossetians are in the middle, and look to Russia as their protector.The Azerbaijans tend to look to Iran for guidance.This is not a peaceful or easily governed region.

This work is particularly important in light of recent developments where Russia invaded Georgia supposedly to aid the Ossetians.This book is highly recommended to Western readers who desire a relatively quick introduction to the Caucasus in order to understand the issues currently in the news.The reader will also come away with the realization that issues in the Caucasus are not likely to be simple or what they are said to be in soundbites.

The author is to be commended for bringing this relatively obscure corner of the world into the light where the reader can grasp the essentials of its history and characteristics. ... Read more

Product Description
In this wide-ranging and provocative book, Stephen F. Cohen cuts through Cold War stereotypes of the Soviet Union to arrive at fresh interpretations of that country's traumatic history and its present-day political realities.

Cohen's lucidly written, revisionist analysis reopens an array of major historical questions.As he probes Soviet history, society, and politics, Cohen demonstrates how this country has remained stable during its logn journey from revolution to conservatism.It the process, he suggests more enlightened approaches to American/Soviet relations. Based on the author's many years of study and reserach, including numerous visits to the USSR, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the state of world affairs today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Samizdat for the 21st century
This book could be a parallel to Immanuel Goldstein's secret book in 1984. See the Soviet Union from a critical yet unbiased viewpoint for the first time and ideologically stick it to the powers that be.

Samizdat for the 21st century
This book could be a parallel to Immanuel Goldstein's secret book in 1984. See the Soviet Union from a critical yet unbiased viewpoint for the first time and ideologically stick it to the powers that be. ... Read more

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In 1945 the USSR was at the height of its international power and prestige, but years of prolonged hardship were to follow as Stalinist dictatorship was ruthlessly imposed. Since 1988 the mantle of Soviet secrecy has begun to lift, allowing historians access to some of the country's vast archival resources. Last of the Empires explores the central currents of political, cultural, social, and economic development running through 56 crucial years of Soviet rule, enabling us to gain a greater understanding of what has been called one of the most tragic experiences in human history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A workmanlike account
There is so far a dearth of one-volume histories covering the whole of the post-war years of the Soviet Union, so this book is very welcome.It is in part a workmanlike narrative account of the events, but it is also a cultural history and a necessarily rather dry economic and sociological history as well, with a lot of statistics.The chapters on Brezhnev's Russia are particularly welcome.There have been excellent biographies of Stalin, Khrushchev and Gorbachev; but, as far as I know, there is as yet none in English of Brezhnev, who after all headed the Soviet government for 18 of the period's 46 years.The book's major omission, admitted by the author four pages from the end to "distort the picture", is of foreign policy.Since the international situation and the economic cost of this foreign policy exacted such an immense price in all sorts of ways throughout the period, up to very nearly its end, I think that is indeed a serious omission. ... Read more

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The Russian Revolution produced some of the most startling advances in the fields of art, photography and graphic design seen in the twentieth century; their impact on the development of modernism was immeasurable and is still felt today. Through an amazing array of material including posters, photographs, paintings, magazine covers, book jackets, advertisements, pamphlets and other rare ephemera, "Red Star Over Russia" captures events as they unfold, providing a visual history of the dramatic birth and eventual decline of the Soviet Union. Much of this material, gathered over many years of research, has never been published before.Through a combination of illustration and clear, accessible texts, King traces the development of polemical imagery in Russia from the simple effectiveness of a handbill distributed on the morning of the October Revolution in 1917 to the sophistication of the photo-montages of Alexander Rodchenko and Gustav Klutsis. The way that imagery was arrived at, manipulated and deployed in the service of the Revolution is explored using a wealth of examples. Iconic posters of heroic figures are shown alongside the original photographs from which they were taken.Painted portraits of Lenin draw on the traditional skills of Russian religious iconography. Rare photographs document the bitter struggles of the Second World War. The book's layouts are designed in the clear, visually striking style that made David King one of the most renowned art editors of his generation. ... Read more

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A wealth of rare, firsthand material that sheds light on the everyday life of ordinary women in Russia from the early 1900s to the present day. The eight women interviewed represent diverse social backgrounds and geographical regions--and all were born before the Bolshevik revolution. A REVOLUTION OF THEIR OWN illuminates the harsh reality of women's daily lives in the Soviet Union, as well as expanded opportunities for women. ... Read more

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Living History
A very well-presented portrait of not just women, but of Soviet/Russian history.This book reminded me somewhat of James Baldwin in an off-hand way in that the stories of average people are sometimes more compellingthan those who usually find themselves in the history books.This is agreat addendum to any history teacher's library.

Beautifully Written
Barbara Engel is one of my professors at the University of Colorado, so I might be somewhat biased in my opinion of her book.This collection of stories provides long overdue insight into the lives of the overlookedcitizens of Russia and the Soviet regime: the women.Each life story isfabulously written, exceedingly interesting, and allows students to betterunderstand this most complicated area of the world.I don't think I haveever liked a book that was required reading for a class as much as thisone.Not only is Professor Engel an excellent writer, she is a wonderfulteacher as well.I feel privileged to be in her class. ... Read more

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An updated edition of this comprehensive narrative history, containing a new chapter on Russian literature of the 1980s and additional bibliographical information. ... Read more

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a must!
it's great! never use another reference book! ... Read more

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Frank McDonough offers a stimulating assessment of the causes and impact of the momentous events which shaped Europe during the first half of the twentieth century. The issues and themes examined include: why there were two revolutions in Russia in 1917; to what extent Germany was guilty of causing the Second World War; Mussolini and the development of fascism in Italy; the extent of Nazi popularity in Germany; the impact of Nazism on German society and the economy. Conflict, Communism and Fascism is part of the Cambridge Perspectives in History series. The book matches the requirements of the OCR examination specifications. It is suitable for all Advanced Subsidiary (AS) students, as well as students and undergraduates needing an introduction to the period. It also contains a document section on Nazi Germany. ... Read more

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"That science-fiction future in which technology would make everything very good—or very bad—has not yet arrived. From our vantage point at least, no age appears to have had a deeper faith in the inevitability and imminence of such a total technological transformation than the early twentieth century. Russia was no exception."—from the introduction

In the Soviet Union, it seems, armoring oneself against the world did not suffice—it was best to become metal itself. In his engaging and accessible book, Rolf Hellebust explores the aesthetic and ideological function of the metallization of the revolutionary body as revealed in Soviet literature, art, and politics. His book shows how the significance of this modern myth goes far beyond the immediate issue of the enthusiasm with which the Bolsheviks welcomed such a symbolic transfiguration and that of our own uneasy attraction to the images of metal flesh and machine-men. Hellebust’s literary examples range from the famous (Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago) to the forgotten (early Soviet proletarian poets). To these he adds a mix of non-Russian references, from creation myths to comic book superheroes, medieval alchemy to Moby-Dick. He includes readings of posters, sculpture, and political discourse as well as cross-cultural comparisons to revolutionary France, industrial-age America, and Nazi Germany. The result is a fascinating portrait of the ultimate symbols of dehumanizing modernity, as refracted through the prism of utopian humanism. ... Read more

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This work presents a survey of Russian literature from its beginnings in the 11th century to modern times. Victor Terras argues that Russian literature has reflected, defined, and shaped the nation's beliefs and goals, and he sets his survey against a background of social and political developments and religious and philosophic thought. Terras traces a rich literary heritage that encompasses Russian folklore of the 11th and 13th centuries, medieval literature that in style and substance drew on the Byzantine tradition and literature of the 17th and 18th centuries, when Russia passed through a succession of literary schools - neoclassicism, sentimentalism, romanticism, and realism - imported from the West. Terras then moves on to the masterful realist fiction of Turgenev, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoi during the second half of the 19th century, showing how it was a catalyst for the social and cultural advances following the reforms of Alexander II. In discussing the period preceding the revolution of 1917. Terras links the literary movements with parallel developments in the theatre, music and the visual arts, explaining that these all placed Russia in the forefront of European modernism.Terras divides Russian literature after the revolution into emigre and Soviet writing, and he demonstrates how the latter acted as a propaganda tool of the Communist party. He concludes his survey with the dissident movement that followed Stalin's death, arguing that the movement again made literature a leader in the struggle for freedom of thought, genuine relevance, and communion with Western culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

outstanding
This text, part of a multi-volume history of the Bolshevik Revolution, provides continuing quality of material, immense detail, and, usually, is an amazing page turner.As most of us might assume, a book on this topic is not THE most inspiring or page-turning, and, at times, this text seems to induce sleep where ambien can't.This and the other texts in this series, provide a beneficial understanding for the novice who wishes to better comprehend the revolution.I wish that a little more detail would have been covered on the impact of the revolution on foreign relations and the influence of policies of foreign governments, corporations, and individuals on the revolution.This was an excellent text and, in my opinion, it was well worth the price. ... Read more

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The international bestseller critically acclaimed as"undoubtedly the most important book ever written on Sovietespionage."--San Francisco Chronicle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Inadequate
The main problem with this book is the presentation of the materal. It is a confused and jumbled narrative that lacks clear structure and looses the reader in minutia. It's as if the authors had no plan for organizing the material and are just information-dumping for 700 pages. I don't think one would have to look very hard to find a better-written work on the subject.

Not recommended.

Adds to Our Cumulative Knowledge.
I agree with the other reviewers here as this book is not perfect. It was written before the Venona Transcripts or the Mitrokhin Files became known, and, for this reason, is not as complete a work as something like the Sword and the Shield would be. Regardless, it is an extraordinary primary source testament concerning one of the most secretive, nefarious, and befuddling organizations in history. I got the impression that Mr. Andrew wrote this account based on notes he obtained from Mr. Gordievsky. The result is a somewhat lumbering, and often repetitive, narration. A few of the same sentences are repeated at different points in the book which could potentially irritate many a reader. I did like the chapter outline, however, as it was sequenced chronologically which is helpful considering the varying scenarios within the foreign directorate discussed. We're very lucky in the west that men like Gordievsky had the courage to defect because, if they didn't, there would have been little chance of obtaining information about the Soviet Union at all.

Flawed and incomplete yet still a good read
When this book came out, it was considered to be groundbreaking and astonishing as far as new information about Soviet operations goes. However, it is almost completely irrelevant. If one takes a close look at the book and compares it with "The Mitrokhin Files" (Mitrokhin being another KGB officer who defected several years later), it will be noted that much of the information Gordievsky SHOULD HAVE KNOWN if he really had access to all top Soviet files is missing. This, along with several other contradictory statements, leads us to conclude that the Soviets knew of Gordievsky's activities and so were using him to feed false and/or irrelevant information to the West.

Monumental but hardly captivating
This book tries to be both academic and a good read. Many writers stronger than Gordievsky failed when trying to achieve this.

The authors obviously have a wealth of material at their disposal, but somehow structured approach is lacking. Still, if you have time and/or deep interest in the subject, it is a recommended read.

the most repeatedly astonishing book i have read
yep - i give it 5 stars too

the most repeatedly astonishing book i have read methinks - the commies managed to penetrate western security totally only for stalin to totally ignore or misinterpret its meaning due to paranoia about the west

the methods, results & ruthlessnes are grim but rivetting reading ... Read more

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"... a chronicle of man's bestiality to man, and therefore the few exceptional instances of courage and humanity shine forth with particular brightness." -- The Russian Review

"Essential reading for any holocaust course." -- Religious Studies Review

Bitter Legacy collects scholarship from America, Israel, Russia, Germany, and the Ukraine on the perpetration of the Holocaust in the Soviet Union and its lasting consequences from the postwar period through post-Soviet times. Newly accessible wartime archives in the former Soviet Union provide chilling details of what happened, of collaboration with the Nazis, and of rescue efforts, too.