It is always difficult to say what Andrei Makine's books are about. One could describe the plot or the story-line and feel that one hasn't said anything at all. Makine's novels are like all great works of art. They set up a resonance inside us that is intensely pleasureable and also painful. In Requiem, as in his other novels, Makine's prose is poetic and technically flawless, the historical content is fascinating and his irony and humor elicit a warm rush of recognition and laughter. Like all great art, it also makes us painfully aware of what is unexpressed in us.

If one can say that Dreams of My Russian Summers is "about" the birth of a writer, then Requiem for a Lost Empire is about the struggle to tell or speak the truth. There is a silence that bounds this struggle. The three generations of men in this novel live with the women they love largely in silence. One of the women even has her tongue cut out. Yet somehow, this silence is a state of grace. Most of the time we live in the contiuum between, caught between our superstitious fear of naming things and our compulsion to do so. Makine's efforts to tell the truth, whatever level of truth one wishes to draw from his writing, have produced an exquisitely beautiful and haunting novel.

Andrei Makine adds another laurel to his impressive writing career with the release of Requiem for a Lost Empire. In this short book (250 pages) Makine surveys the past century of change in Russia from the fall of the Czars and the rise of the people, through Stalin and World War II, through the Cold War with its ominous KGB into today with the undercover lives of common men striving to retain the promises of Communism. Makine does this seemingly incredible feat through the eyes of one family - sons and fathers who lived through the various phases of critical change that Russia (empire, USSR, etc) has undergone. In nonlinear fashion he draws multifacted, complex characters with flashbacks and flashforwards in a way that makes this less a history book (though it is valuably one) than the novel it is. And as if that weren't enough, Makine writes with a grace and poetry that suffuse his tale with lasting visuals and ominous grit. That the author left Russia to live in France and has written all his books to date in Frence means that we are also experiencing the work of a master translator. This little book is a gripping masterwork - highly recommended reading.

A very well-presented portrait of not just women, but of Soviet/Russian history. This book reminded me somewhat of James Baldwin in an off-hand way in that the stories of average people are sometimes more compelling than those who usually find themselves in the history books. This is a great addendum to any history teacher's library.

Barbara Engel is one of my professors at the University of Colorado, so I might be somewhat biased in my opinion of her book. This collection of stories provides long overdue insight into the lives of the overlooked citizens of Russia and the Soviet regime: the women. Each life story is fabulously written, exceedingly interesting, and allows students to better understand this most complicated area of the world. I don't think I have ever liked a book that was required reading for a class as much as this one. Not only is Professor Engel an excellent writer, she is a wonderful teacher as well. I feel privileged to be in her class.

A beautifully written and insightful exploration of political thought in Russia during the industrial revolution.

This is one of the best pieces of Russian History I have read, better than Billington or Pipes to be sure. Stites explores the long tradition of Russian Utopias and cultural myth, he digs up amazing bits of early Soviet cultural practice, and carefully analyzes it all with an impressive set of theoretical tools. Best of all this is an extremely enagaging book, nothing dry about its careful historical work, just fascinating subject matter in a clear, sensible form. I was so engaged by Revolutionary Dreams when I first saw it in a friend's library that he had to lend it to me to get me to go home. Finally, I know of nowhere else that you can learn about what made the Rosa Luxemburg chocolate bar special.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this book, despite the setting of age level, was to my liking. Gloria Skurzynski is a wonderful author. This book talks about the the differences between the working class and the upper class of the 1900's. It also talks about love, poverty, and regret. I implore you, especially if you are between the ages of 12 and 14, to buy this book. You will be amazed by the messages it conveys.

Rockbuster has just been included on the Tayshas list for recommended books for Texas high school students. Teaching himself guitar while working in the pitch-black of the mines gives Tommy a chance to get out of the hell underground--the hell that the new labor unions of the early 1900s is trying to relieve. Tommy's uncle dies for the unions, but Tommy sees their flaws clearly and must decide how his loyalties lie to his family, his girlfriend, and himself. The author has a done a superb job with history, growing up, shouldering guilt and responsibilities, falling in love, and living in the 1900s.

In the late 1950s and the early 1960s, the Soviet Union had a series of spectacular achievements in its space program. These included the first satellite in orbit, first animal (a dog) in orbit, first man in orbit, first cosmonaut to spend a day in space, first woman in orbit, first multiperson space flight, and first space walk. Hall and Shayler, in their well-written book, provide an interesting account of the glory days of the Soviet space program, which at the time was shrouded in great secrecy. Despite limited resources relative to the US and conflicts within the space hierarchy, the Russians set new records and developed a serious presence in space. The book includes many tables, diagrams, and photographs, some of which appear to have been provided by families of the cosmonauts. The authors stress the key role of chief designer Sergei Korolyov in the success of these space efforts. The political leadership used the space program for propaganda purposes and forced the program to take on some great risks. Nevertheless, the successes were stunning and a few space flight records remain from that era. General readers; undergraduates.

Over the past few years Spring-Praxis has begun publishing high quality books about various aspects of space exploration, ranging from robotic missions to human exploration. This book is latest entry in series and continues the tradition of providing high caliber books. This time, the book focuses on the development of the Russian space program and the early flights (both men and women). While the book covers all the usual Russian firsts, like the first man and women crew into space and the first EVA, there are also a lot of other firsts, like the first civilians into space, which are covered as well. This truly an excellent book and presents a lot new information in a relatively non-technical way.

The book is divided into four main sections. The first section deals with the early Russian space pioneers, like Tsiolkovsky, and the development of the ballooning programs. The next section, which is the largest section, focuses on the Korolyov (The Chief Designer) and the development of the early Russian space program. The third section covers the early human space flight missions and the final section examines the unmanned vehicles that followed. Occasionally a few paragraphs about the US program are presented, to allow the reader to better gauge the Russian progress.

The first section of the book examines the early space flight theories of Tsiolkovsky and the early Russian pioneering efforts in stratospheric ballooning with the goal of trying to set a new manned altitude record. Two important benefits that came about due to these efforts were the development of pressurized suits for low altitudes and the understanding of parachuting fundamentals and parachutes clubs, which were ultimately applied, to the Russian space program.

The next section covers the Russian space program after World War II and the use captured German hardware to begin a space program. From these initial test flights, the Russian were able to begin development their ballistic missiles. The books presents the progression of the Russian missile program from the German V-2 through the Russian R-7, and it is easy to see that the Russian launch vehicles are direct descendants of the German launch vehicles.

The main section of the book focuses on the development of the early Russian space program, both manned and unmanned and contains a lot of information about the chief designer, Sergie Korolyov. The section of the books cover the construction of the Baikonur launch facility, the artificial satellite program, the development of the Vostok capsule, crew training, crew selection and loads of other stuff. I found the parts about the selection and construction of the Baikonur launch facility extremely fascinating. While it was in part chosen for its remoteness, it was also chosen that in the event of an abort, the launch vehicle could come down Russia and in relatively unpopulated areas of Russia. The construction crews faced a lot of hardships and death, but eventually after several years of hardships, the facility was completed. Also included in this section are detailed descriptions of the crew selection and training and ultimately their flights into Earth orbit. It is impressive to see than the Russian cosmonaut program paralleled the US effort and in many cases surpassed NASA. Specifically, the choice of women and civilians for spaceflight happened years before NASA even considered doing so. While some of the motivation behind these efforts may have political, these efforts were nevertheless carried on with success.

The final section of the book covers the unmanned flight since the Vostok and Voskhod missions. It was extremely interesting to note that many of the unmanned Earth orbiting Russian satellites even up to the most recent launches are based significantly on these early designs.

This is one of the best books I've read on the early Russian space effort with the only possible exception being Jim Oberg's Red Star in Orbit. It covers all the aspects of the development of the Russian space program and present a lot new information. Highly recommended!!!!!

The great humanist Rockwell Kent is represented well in the plates of this "lost Landscape" edition. The plates are great color, and the text fills you in on the complexity of his socialist political life. Kent is a superior mannerist as was his contemporary Grant Wood. It is heartening to see these works from the Soviet Union in such an inexpensive and reputable package. The book is true to the beauty and substance of this sometimes underappreciated legend! I was lucky enough to see some of the great Adirondack paintings at the Blue Mtn. museum last summer, which made me ravenous to get this book. I am thrilled! Buy it if you have an affinity for the works of Kent!

"Rockwell Kent's Forgotten Landscapes" presents 47 full-color, full-page paintings which he gave to Russia in 1960, and which have not been seen in the U.S. since. This treasure trove of his "forgotten" paintings was reproduced by Scott R. Ferris and Ellen Pearce in a 96-page coffee-table format.

By their direct simplicity, these paintings may startle viewers, especially those who revel in the nuances of paintings by impressionists, for Kent's pictures have sharp lines, bright colors, and deep shadows, and show the use of artistic license here and there. Edward Hopper's "houses" are done in a somewhat similar style. Kent's painting locales included the Adirondacks (his home), Greenland, Maine (Monhegan), Tierra del Fuego, Alaska and Ireland.

After studying the collection this reviewer emerged convinced that he has a better grasp of North Greenland, where the sun wheels around 360 degrees while hanging just above the horizon during summer months and casting a sort of perpetual evening light and long shadows. Kent's paintings often show no human or animal life, but there is enough inclusion of Indian activities as to cause cultural anthropologists to consider his paintings to be rare records of this primitive, by-gone lifestyle. Kent's portrait of Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies was so startling in color and composition as to make this reviewer actually gasp in wonder at its beauty.

In addition to the big color plates, the authors have included 36 smaller black & white pictures which amplify 15 pages of scholarly text by Ferris, in which he discusses the genealogies of selected pictures and their believed locations abroad. The text is backed by 95 footnotes, many of which are interesting in their own right.

Appendix I lists "variant titles to some of Kent's basic scenes." Appendix II organizes his "non-paintings" into engravings, lithographs, books and brochures, manuscripts and reproductions and portfolios -- all wonderful guides to other Kent works. Then there follow a Bibliography and Index.

Ellen Pearce's major contribution is a seven-page essay on the life and political entanglements of Rockwell Kent, which climaxed in his being summoned before Sen. Joseph McCarthy's Committee on Government Operations. Further, the State Department refused to renew his travel visa until the Supreme Court overturned its ruling. All this disheartened and embittered Kent and predisposed him to bequeath his "great collection" to the Russians, who had received an earlier show of his with warmth and enthusiasm.

For those who heretofore have known Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) only by his book and magazine illustrations, this is a grand introduction to his work in oils. One hopes another book someday will publish his collected works so that Americans can even better appreciate a great native-born but forgotten artist.

very interesting look on russian history.
much more compeling then "official" version.
would be great to translate to english

After years of meticulous research and field work, one of Russia's most prolific genre writers challenges the traditional version of the Russian history. A Russia That Was Not is a true eye-opener, as Bushkov's no-nonsense, logical approach to many events and mysteries of the past leads him and the reader to conclusions that disagree with the official side of story! Was Russia initially indeed a Catholic country? Would the decembrists' "liberating" conspiracy propel the country into the nightmare of a ruthless dictatorship? And did Peter the Great really have to introduce the supposedly three-centuries-behind-their-time Russians to the western lifestyle?

Yet another version of the Russian history, but written with so much wit and insight it just might happen to be accurate!

_The Rulers of Russia_ is an examination of some of the Bolshevik leaders and Russian party chiefs who created the Soviet disaster and attempts to show how these forces are linked to international finance and various Judaic elements. Rev. Denis Fahey contends that the modern world is headed in the direction of greater servility, communism, and "naturalistic" supplantation of true religion. Opposed to this tendency stands the great tradition of Christ's Catholic Church. The author examines some dictatorships such as Hitler's Germany which attempted to oppose international finance based on a false religion of racial worship. Against this the author proposes that we must return to the mystical Body of Christ in an effort to achieve a truly Christian society. This essay is also interesting for its discussions of banking, the gold standard, and the role of international finance and racial idolatry in the affairs of the modern world.

This outstanding and remarkable book written by Father Dennis Fahey is a «classic» among the literature related to Jewish plans for World domination... On his work, the author pointed out the real rulers of Russia since the bolchevism revolution of 1917 have been the jews... showing proofs of all types in order to get to his thesis: names of komintern and politburo figures, comissairs, ambassadors, and tracking the jewish origin of people such as K. Marx (Mordekai), V. I. Lenin (Ulianov Blank), Trotsky, etc. etc. Moreover, the book deals with the question about jewish naturalism and how far it can ruined christian society; as for many centuries history facts have been demonstrated... To sum up, and following Catholic Doctrine, Father Dennis Fahey show us the only way the world should be rule is under the principles of Christ the King, joining his Mystical Body. Reading this book will find you all the time wasted not learning about the jewish danger all over the world!

A few years ago, my father came home from a trip to Russia, he brought some matroyoshka nesting dolls and a gold toned porcelain hand painted serving dish. Now that one of my best friends is living in Russia, I was even more interested in seeing what her new world looks like.

As the largest country in the world, there is so much to see although I would not mind heading over there to see a Siberian tiger! You will love the pictures of the ice festival in which the winter is enlivened with sculptures carved out of ice. There is also some interesting history to the story.

This is a journey from Early Russia to the New Russia. While this book is written for children, adults will find it very interesting for the historical details alone.

Educational!

If you are afraid that you need to read War and Peace to learn about Russia, fear not. Russia (Eyewitness Books) succinctly and beautifully illustrates the life and people of Russia. The content is a bit deep for the audience of 9 to 12 year olds. But there is something here for lovers of things Russian of any age.

Harvey presents a good summary of all aspects of the Russian space program and an excellent summary of Russian activities since the Cold War ended. The author includes very thorough, item-by-item descriptions of each aspect of the manned program, international participation, and of military, scientific, communication, and other civilian satellites including their design, their launch vehicles, their engines, and their launch sites. Harvey documents the decline in the Russian program and comes down somewhat hard on the problems that the Russians have faced since the downfall of the Soviet regime. Yet, despite the decline, the book is hopeful about the longer-term reconstitution of the Russian space program. Harvey writes well and includes well-chosen anecdotes. Good photographs, tables, and maps; complete summary of Russian space launches from 1992 to 2000; six pages of notes and references; seven-page index. Highly recommended as a thorough, well-balanced, up-to-date treatise of the Russian space program. All levels.

For those who think that NASA is the only way to go into space, read this excellent book, and you will see that the Soviets, and now Russia, really have an incredible history, and a bright future ahead, providing they can cope with their financial problems. The quality and imagination of the russian space program is incredible, and it would be a invaluable loss if it had to collapse completely... because it may very well be this program that will get us out of our craddle.