Moscow, Europe Publishing House, 2006, pp 688
The book by Dominic Lieven, lecturer at the London School of Economics and descendant of officers in Russian service, portrays Russian history in a general context of empire destinies. The British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire – it is only in this environment, which – to a greater or lesser extent – has always been hostile to Russia, that the history of our country and its current perception in the West can be fully understood. What is probably the most interesting here is Lieven’s attempt to retrace the process of disintegration of empires and its long-term effects. The author’s comparative historical approach to the complicated subject of empires is not often to be found in contemporary literature. Besides, the specific combination of scientific distancing and the author’s emotional attachment to the country of his ancestors bestows a unique individuality to the book.
