A History of Russia by Nicholas V. Riasanovsky Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A History of Russia
Book Review: Solid history textbook - 4.5 stars
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't help but address the comments of the reader that gave this work 1 star. It's interesting that he cites the territories annexed by Russia as Chinese / Japanese / etc. Where do you think Japan / China / etc. got those territories? Did he ever stop to think that at one point in time Japan, China, and any other country didn't have statehood, and the latter is always achieved through a painful process of unification by both doplomatic and military means? If same logic of denying a country its legitimacy based on forceful means of expansion is used consistently, then our great country of the USA should also be considered an illegitimate occupant of native American lands. Please let us adhere to commonly accepted methods of historical research and exposition, instead of expressing one's ill attitude toward a country using flawed reasoning.The book at hand does indeed present a comprehensive coverage of Russian history, albeit in a somewhat dry fashion. Do not expect to finish this book and be left with crisp and colorful images of Russia's history. But what you can expect is a comprehensive coverage of every period of Russian history, complete with dates, names, and places. After a once-over, this book can be used as a reference, or a refresher on a particular timeframe in the history of the country. I am still looking for a more captivating work on Russian history, so anyone knows of any - please recommend.
Book Review: This history is a necessary read
Summary: 5 Stars
I just read a "one star review" of this book, and it galled me. So I write this.This book is a STANDARD history of Russia, used by many, including my, college courses on the subject. It is generally considered a classic.
If you want, or profess, to understand Russian history, this book is a must. Absolutely. First rate. NO, not without the author's personal imput.
But what book is without that imput? NONE.
Buy it, read it, and try to understand. Yes, read others, but read this first.
THIS IS THE STANDARD TEXT.
Take care and God bless your endeavors.
Book Review: Very biased
Summary: 1 Stars
Riasanovsky's History of Russia is written from an unapologetically imperialistic and outdated perspective. It belongs to Victorian times when armies traveled overseas to take control of weaker and less well armed territories and peoples. Except that in the Russian case, no overseas risks were taken. Instead, the Russians preferred contiguous conquest of non-Russian territories which were renamed "Russia" as soon as they came under Cossack control. A prime example of this type of conquest is Siberia and "the Russian Far East" which remain the only parts of Asia presently controlled by a non-Asian military power. Even the voracious British did not call India "Britain."Riasanovsky's book contains countless omissions, inaccuracies, distortions, and plain untruths which together create an image of Russia as a nation state rather than a colonial empire; a benign power that subjugated those in need of tutelage. Nowhere in this book is there a mention of the unspeakable destruction wrought on peoples and territories by the centralized Moscow government which robbed, stole, or burned whatever could not be stolen as soon as it conquered, and left behind a network of spies comparable to those of the Mongol Khans. Nowhere does Riasanovsky explain why and by what means the kingdom of Muscovy conquered territory hundreds of times its size, and then claimed bogus origins in Kiev.
Ask any Chinese, and he will rattle off names of territories taken away by force from their original Asian inhabitants and annexed by Moscow. Ask a Japanese what he thinks of what resembles a robbery in plain view (see Riasanovsky euphemistic description of this robbery which, he says, cost the Russians "considerable casualties, for the Japanese did resist." In her book, Kalpana Sahni tells a terrifying story of what the Russian empire did to the Central Asian and Caucasus peoples. Has anyone ever asked why the fertile territories near the Black Sea were so deprived of human settlements that Chichikov could plan to settle his "dead souls" there? Has anyone read the history of those peoples written from THEIR point of view?
In our own time, the killings and torture of tens of thousands of Chechens (a small nation that still resists Russian aggression) testify to a nearly total absence in Russian culture of resistance to Russia's relentless aggression against those neighbors who are weaker, less numerous, or located in economically advantageous areas.
There is no reflection in Riasanovsky's book on this imperialistic past and present. The story might have been told by Father Christmas: Russia was born, then it grew, and grew, and grew.
This kind of story belongs to imperialism's heyday in the nineteenth century. Only a shortage of histories of Russia written by unbiased scholars makes this extremely biased, not to say propagandistic, volume pass for a good introduction to Russian history for American students.
Book Review: Very good book on Russian history
Summary: 5 Stars
A very good book about Russian history. Facts are presented in clear and concise way. Really useful for someone who is trying to learn more about Russian history.
I also believe that a 1-star review written by an anonymous reviewer in 2000 should be removed from this site, since it is devoted more to attacking of Russian people on a personal level than to reviewing of this book. I find it offensive and hope that Amazon will remove it as soon as possible, since it doesnt belong on such site as Amazon.
Book Review: Very thorough and readable-Excellent choice for a class
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the privilege of taking many classes given by Prof. Riasanovsky at Berkeley in the early 70's. Now as a high school teacher, I use his book as our text. It is thorough, clear, explains historical transitions well, and gets high praise from my students. Excellent index and references.
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