Elegant and informative ... An excellent starting point for an inventive history of a country that has staked so much on the tenuous fables of nationalism.
Expansive, often absorbing ... Pinkham is at her sharpest when examining the Soviet era and its aftermath ... At times the avalanche of names, places and events grows dizzying.
While Pinkham keeps herself out of the narrative, it is clear she believes these priceless forests should be appreciated for their own sake, not just for what they provide humans ... Pinkham, ever a realist, sounds a somber note.
