Most Russian Literature is very good. If you like this book, than read A Hero Of Our Time by Lermontov. Demon is interesting, because of the background of the poem and it's author. Much of Lermontov's work, especially this poem was outlawed in Russia.

"The Golovlyov Family" by Shchedrin is an excellent book. I've read both American and English literature, but this is a whole new literature form that seems to have the best of both worlds; it has the vivid descriptions of English literature, yet the simplicity of American works, that is, there's no nonesense dialog of meaninglessness that's often found in English novels. My first thought at reading the book was how could a translation be SO good, and how good would the Russian version be?

There is much emotion in the book, and the feelings permeate or pulse out of the book, absorbing and drawing in the reader like a good book should. Although set in the 1800's at the time the first Russian revolution ( I'm by no means a historian by the way), the book is not heavily focused on politics as works of Orwell are. The political affairs are a very distant and small prop on this rich stage of a book.

When reading the book, however, I strongly recommend the note taking of names, because some characters are referred to by more than one name. It's not hard to follow if you jot a few reminders down when introduced to each character, this will save much confusion later.

On a final note, if you're reading this book, read it purely for it's own sake. This isn't an adventure book with a climax and an unbelievable series of events at the end, so if that's what you're expecting, you'll regret reading the book. However, if you're after some brilliantly rich literature, with excellent characters, settings, and unfoldings of events, then this is a book I highly recommend. It truly is a masterpiece.

In the first sentence of "The Gorbachev Factor," Archie Brown tells his readers that his work "is neither a history of the Gorbachev era, nor a biography of Mikhail Gorbachev." On reading that, this "country boy" had to ask..."well what is it?" Well, by the end I knew: Brown's work is an outstanding analysis of Mikhail Gorbachev's influence on Soviet history in the 1980's. It is a well written, well researched and well documented account not just of Gorbachev's role during this time, the the myiad factors that influenced Gorbachev. Now, there "ain't" no doubt that Brown likes Gorbachev. While Brown points our more than ove of Gorbachev's faults, the lion's share of Brown's work tend to vindicate his actions and elevate his intent. But this is no simple apology for the leader of a regime that fell. Rather, it is an in-depth look at the incredable challenges and paradoxical results of Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership of the Soviet Union.

This was a good book for beginners. not ever picking up a harmonica before, this book taught me a lot. however, if you are looking for a book with a lot of songs that aren't so simple... this might not be the best book for you.

Excellent source of resource material on famous Jewish personalities and institutions in Russia - the Soviet Union, especially St. Petersburg at the turn of the century. Few such books exist in English. Expecting more such books.

I'm not a big reader of literary criticism, but this book really helped me. I loved Master & Margarita the first time I read it, but there are several references that just escaped me. This book, coupled with the new Vintage/Ardis edition which has copious endnotes, helps clarify things that would normally escape a non-Russia unfamiliar with life in 1930's Russia.

This is the definitive 1937 biography of the great anarchist revolutionary, Michael Bakunin written by the British historian E.H. Carr. The book is very effective in illuminating the chaotic life of of the secretive Bakunin.

Born into a family of the Russian nobility in 1814, Michael Bakunin rebelled and became a political activist and refugee travelling around Europe. He played an active role rabble-rousing in the streets during the revolutionay upsurges of 1848-49. He also played a leading role in the uprising in Lyons, France in 1870.

During the years in between he joined the International Working Men's Association (First International) then in a dispute with Marx was expelled from the First International. It is his conflict with Marx that makes the tenets of his anarchism come into sharp definition. The book is important not only for the history of anarchism but as a counterpoint for the study of Marxism.

This is the only Biography of Mikhail Bakhtin available in English. Published in 1984, it is now outdated, but it is still worth reading for those interested in Bakhtin and his work. The Biography more or less follows the chronological order of his life, and therefore is helpful in placing his work in a particular time. This is important because the English Translations, especially the Essay compilations, "Dialogic Imagination" and "Speech Genres and other Late Essays", tend to mix work from diferent periods in his life. Bakhtin's thought changed and developed in his life, and this Biography helps make sense of this. Actual details and anecdotes of Bakhtin's life, that help putting a "man behind the work", are disappointingly scant. The reader will not learn much about what Bakhtin actually did outside his work in this Literary Biography. Most of all, I would have been interested in his reading likes, as well as dislikes, and his opinions of Authors and Literary Theorists. Otherwise, this Biogrpahy is well written and researched, but now out of date. For Bakhtin studies a new Biography is neded, and even more importantly a Critical Edition of his work.

Sad to see eagerness in trimming everything to the insipid norms of political correctness. Ivan and his Magic Pony was originally Ivan the Fool and the Gibbous Little Horse. So what if they are "handicapped": some sort of handicap is almost required for this underdog-has-to-win type of fairy tales; and the talking horse is a magic creature, no wonder it is a bit weird.
Another adjustment made for no apparent reason is Pinocchio. The tale by Alexei Tolstoy is about Buratino, and it's a very loose variation on Pinocchio, to the point that it's a story in its own right. Why bring the confusion?
As for the fairy tales, they are all wonderful. I read (or was told) them in my childhood.
The Soviet-made cartoons, whence the stills came, are also posh, if you don't mind dull and grainy look of film.

A very detailed overview of Botvinnik's career covering his "Golden Years". The book covered the period between 1948 to 1970 whereby he became World Champion and went through the trials and tribulations of losing the championship and winning it back in a rematch on two occasions. This book clearly showed the mental strength of a great player - of his ability to stand up after falling down! The games demonstrated the maturity of Botvinnik over the years. Similar strategic ideas were referenced to earlier games in the book or to his other masterpieces. The analyses were brief and straight to the point. It may be a little difficult for beginners to understand the notes without the guidance of a chess player with considerable strength. This book is most suitable for an intermediate and master strength player. The brief introduction given by Bernard Cafferty at the beginning of the book serves little purpose. It is not Botvinnik's story that is interesting but his games!