Russian History

Great book. A massive sweep of Russian history told in all of it's gory details!!

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1 person found this helpful

vast in scope, amazing detail

I loved how the narrator relates many old traditions to modern day Russia, or compares the Romanov tyranny with the Bolshevik. The narrator goes too quickly at times but that's possibly because it's incredibly long. I would recommend listening to this book if you're a true Russia geek.

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Excellent

Fascinating listen and very informative. very well read. It has inspired further investigation into Russian History.

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A great history.

This is a long and complex story stretching centuries. There are a lot of very involved and intricate references to people and events over a long period of time. I think the book might be for students of Russian History, or for those with an in depth interest. For me, it was too much detail, but I did learn many things that gave me a better comprehension of the subject.
Although the narration was pretty good, I did find it too fast to " take in " overall.

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A marvelous account

This book is well-read - the first criterion for an audiobook. It is intelligent an well argued. The Romanovs were colourful enough, and hte author obviously delights in semi-pornographic quotes from their letters to each other. In his last chapter, he summarises, Stalin believed the Russians needed a czar or czar-figure - someone to work for and to serve. Putin is making the same error. There are enough Russians who can think, and who have left their country. It's time for a courageous leader to prepare the people to choose how they want to live. What a tragedy that Russia fails and fails again to provide the space for such a leader to rise.

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Stunning writing

This is absolutely glorious. So complete, so compelling and befitting of this remarkable dynasty. I can’t recommend highly enough.

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Splendid overview of tsarist Russia

This is a wonderful evocation of the life of the Russian courts in a three hundred year period. It is thoroughly researched and documented but told in a very accessible manner that said there is so much detail that it would be hard to content oneself with just one reading. I found the narrator to be marvellous because he tells the story in a neutral way which is perfect.
Through reading this book it dawned on me that Stalin was far more impregnanted by his culture of tsarism in his actions than that of Marx - secret police, autocracy, purges, promulgation of the self as Father of the People, drinking bouts, indifference to mass starvation or privations, censorship of the press, Siberian exile and so on. I had already read the author's excellent book on Stalin and now I can't wait to read his book on Jerusalem.

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Vast history of an impressive dynasty

A massive romp through the Romanov dynasty detailing their rise and dramatic fall. The book examines known Tsars such as Peter the Great and Catherine the Great as well those lesser known such as Paul I. A massive book which incorporates 300 hundred years and is therefore limited in depth about the individual Tsars with more attention paid to the more ‘popular’ rulers.

I enjoyed listening to the book and the separation techniques used helped me to remember some of the names of the different protagonists, although I did still struggle due to the similarities in names. A good solid book for those wanting an overview and basic understanding of the Romanov dynasty.

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very informative very fun

very good quality recording as well as good information covered in this. would recommend it

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Fascinating and dramatic

I'd like to address some of the criticisms other reviewers have made of this book. I really can't understand the negative reception to Simon's narration that I've encountered here. The writing style used in the book is very dramatic for example Montefiore divides the narrative into plays and scenes and in the memorable introduction he contrasts tense scenes at the beginning and end of the Romanov dynasty. A classical actor is thus the perfect choice for the book's reader. Suffice to say most people will know Simon Russel Beale's work on the stage and will know what they are getting. For me his work is perfectly poised, his phrasing musical and he is always clear.

The question of the torture and cruelty cannot of course be a criticism but it is very graphic for about the first third of the book. After Catherine the Great things are more civilised but the final very detailed and drawn out section of Nikolai II and family's murder is an absolute bloodbath.

In some ways such a history which focuses on a dynasty over 3 centuries will have a huge cast of characters so some effort is needed, but a quick check on Wikipedia soon gets you back up to speed when you get lost. There are lots of familiar historical figures, Frederick the great, Napoleon and the Bolsheviks and seeing everything from the Russian side can be very interesting.

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