This collection of essays by Russia's leading liberal thinkers at the turn of the century presents a powerful intellectual case for liberalism that is a must-read for anyone interested in Russian history or the problems of liberalism in contemporary Russia. Randall Poole's clear introduction gives the full historical and philosophical context. It is less polemical, more constructive, and in many ways even more interesting than the later and more famous Vekhi collection of essays by (mostly) the same people.