Exploring Russia: A Concise History of a Great Power
A seemingly endless struggle against marauding hordes, a centuries-long desire to secure access to oceanic routes, an arduous evolution from an agrarian society to an industrial nation: these are some of the themes explored in Kochan’s short yet penetrating history of Russia. After more than four decades in print, Kochan’s “The Making of Modern Russia” remains a highly accessible overview of Russian history. Its main value is in providing a compact and convenient yet illuminating reference about the progress of Russia from its origins as the medieval state of Kiev Rus to a realm that covers more than one-eighth of the planet’s land mass. (This review refers to the 1963 edition.)

Drawing on documentation made available just before the publication of this book in the West, this extensively revised and updated edition reflects current views, in Russia and abroad, on the country's past as it approaches the new millennium.