Russia: The Once and Future Empire from Pre-History to Putin

"A gripping and supremely readable book . . . combines shrewd analysis of Russia's . . . appetite for empire with a wonderful narrative pace and fine scholarship." —Simon Sebag-Montefiore, New York Times–bestselling author

Through the centuries, Russia has swung sharply between successful expansionism, catastrophic collapse, and spectacular recovery. This illuminating history traces these dramatic cycles of boom and bust from the late Neolithic age to Ivan the Terrible, and from the height ...