Dear Friends,
I would like to share with you my recommendation for a book by Edward Rutherfurd.
If you are interested in learning about Russian history without the dry minutia, but with a fictional flair, I recommend Russka.
This novel goes through the history of Russia from its origins in the Kievan Rus, through the Romanovs dynasty, the October Revolution and until the modern times.
All the developments are seen through the eyes of inhabitants and their descendants of a made-up Russian town – Russka.
This novel has romance, intrigue and murder intertwined with the historical accounts of Russia’s past.
Especially now, as the future of Russian-Ukrainian relations seem uncertain, it is particularly interesting to learn about the rise of the Russian Empire in order to understand where the future vis-a-vis its neighbors lies.
In addition, this author has several other similar historical novels on various locales.
Another of his books that I enjoyed reading is New York, on the chronicles of the New York City, from the first Dutch Colony called New Amsterdam to the now days cosmopolitan.
It was fascinating to read about the past events occurring in many places and neighborhoods so familiar to us. You will never walk the streets of NYC again without imagining all of the historical episodes that shaped it.