PositiveThe Guardian (UK)Inevitably in a survey of more than 1,000 years of history, much has had to be skirted over or omitted. But this book’s purpose is not to fill in all the blanks. It is to examine the recurring themes and myths that drive Vladimir Putin’s conviction that war with Ukraine and with western Europe is part of Russia’s historical destiny. For those unfamiliar with the past, this is an indispensable manual for making sense of Russia’s present ... This, as the title tells us, is one country’s story about itself ... Meticulous ... Figes attempts to answer this in his final chapter: how does the story of Russia end, and how far will its future continue to be shaped by its past? In the midst of the current uncertainty and turbulence, this is no easy task. What Figes does note – correctly in my view – is that Putin’s approach to history is somewhat \'pick-and-mix\', a postmodern selection of what fits his current purpose, shape-shifting along with his policies to adapt to changed circumstances.
