Endurance and Endeavour: Russian History 1812-1986 (Short Oxford History of the Modern World)

In Russia, both rulers and ruled have long endeavoured to transform their country, each in their own forcible way. Their efforts have never quite seemed to yield the results hoped for, and despite reform and revolution, some things have changed very little. Yet Russia has never lacked able individuals, as the rich history of its art, science, and scholarship can testify. Nnow fully updated, this book relates Russian tradition to the events of history and encourages readers to seek their own explanations of the country's paradox.