Eighteen articles, mainly by US, Russian, and British scholars, cover various aspects of the Russian Empire from its foundation under Peter the Great to the rule of Stalin. The Russian participants, mostly historians and political scientists, come from the two Russian capitals and various other cities. The major focus is the geographies of rule in Russia. . . . The materials are derived in large part from Russian archives, especially those in Moscow. Several good maps aid readers' comprehension. . . . Recommended.
Choice
[D]emonstrates brilliantly how the Russian and Soviet empires were able to survive for so long . . . This is a genuinely valuable and thought-provoking collection of essays and it deserves a wide readership.
European History Quarterly
This book makes a substantial contribution to scholarship not only on Russian history but the whole study of empire.
New Zealand Slavonic Journal