The Structure of Soviet History: Essays and Documents

by Ronald Grigor Suny

Book Overview

This unique collection of primary documents and important scholarly articles tells the fascinating and tragic story of Russia's twentieth century. Edited by Ronald Grigor Suny, an eminent historian and political scientist, The Structure of Soviet History illustrates both the revolutionary changes and the broad continuities in Soviet history. It discusses the history, not only of the Russian people, but of other Soviet peoples as well--the nationalities that made up the tsarist and Soviet empires and formed independent states in the early 1990s. This volume enables students to delve beyond traditional narratives to look at the building blocks of history--archival documents, memoirs, and interpretive essays by the leading experts in the field. Students will learn about the fall of the tsarist empire, the hopes and aspirations of the revolutionary years, the brutalities of the Stalin years, the attempts to reform the country in the last decades of Soviet power, and finally, the collapse of the USSR and the emergence of fifteen fragile republics. Rather than imposing a single view on students, The Structure of Soviet History allows them to come up with their own, fresh interpretations of a controversial and often misunderstood experience.
Organized chronologically and covering political, social, and cultural history from a variety of viewpoints, the readings examine all of the major events and principal interpretations of Soviet history. Selections include official pronouncements and dissident manifestos, public speeches and private letters, and previously untranslated documents. Suny's introductory essay provides the broad outlines of Soviet history, while the chapter introductions summarize the main features and historical debates of each period. Each document is prefaced by a brief headnote that identifies the author and places the work in context; explanatory notes are also included to define words and events that may not be familiar to students. A truly unique text, The Structure of Soviet History is ideal for use in undergraduate courses on the history of the Soviet Union as well as introductory courses on Soviet politics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195137043
• ISBN13: 9780195137040
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent service!

I needed the book before Thursday and had it shipped accordingly. The book came on Wednesday, the fastest it could have possibly been delivered. Thanks again!

Informative, but DENSE!!

Very informative book that covers a great deal of information. Not overtly biased like some other Soviet history works. VERY DENSE, not an "easy" read. It assumes some prior knowledge of soviet/russian history. Not recommended for anyone new to soviet history who is not prepared to do background research. Good reference though and quite detailed.

Comprehensive History

Suny seems to capture the essence of the Russian Revolution to a depth one would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The progression of information is not completely linear but rather Suny captures events that occur simultaneously throughout Russia. This book covers the major details but also highlights on the every day lives of the people of Russia and the common attitude many of the different classes shared. If you're going to study Russian history, this book is a must.