Interesting about the Orthodox Church which has quite recently become independent from Russia in the Ukraine. Altogether a complex topic, don’t you think? It is on my lengthening tbr list!!
Anyone who has read any Russian literature or history must be aware of how different a nation Russia feels compared with ourselves or other European nations; sadly this awareness never seems to percolate down to politicians… Agains the current backdrop of the Ukraine crisis, I was constantly struck by the lack of ability or willingness ofWestern leaders and politicians to see the world from the perspective of Russia and its people, which might actually inform a more helpful and sensible response to them. But we are incapable of going beyond the triumphalism of “we won the Cold War”. It was in the hope of digging deeper and understanding more, that I finally opened this tome which I’d bought nearly 20 years ago.
Figes offers an excellent, clear and detailed contextual background at the start, and this is possibly the best part…
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penwithlit 