Here is a visually stunning introduction to the fascinating and diverse land of Russia. Superb color photographs of costumes, crafts, jewels and palaces offer a unique eyewitness view of Russia and the lives of its inhabitants through the ages.
See a Mongol warrior's imposing suit of armor, the stunning diamond-encrusted crown jewels, beautifully painted wooden crafts, and the spectacular architecture of Russia's most famous cities.
Learn about the sinister secret police, how religious icons are restored to their former glory, about the opulent and extravagant life-styles of the tsars, why the peasant, Pugachev, was locked up in a cage, and about the revolutionary Bolsheviks.
Discover the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church, the 13th-century paper made of birch bark, what happens inside a banya, the great tradition of tea drinking, and much, much more.
Review:
Murrell provides an overview of an important country from the earliest time to the present (2000). Following the traditional Eyewitness format, the book presents topics in large double-page spreads, generously illustrated with clear, full-color objects set against a white background. The narrative, composed of brief paragraphs and factoid captions, may be a problem for report writers, but the flow is generally chronological. In addition to history, the author touches upon the land (Russia spans 11 time zones), the various peoples who inhabit the region, religion, architecture (including an explanation of how onion domes are constructed), science and industry, writers and artists, arts and crafts, and culture. This attractive introduction to the changing nation should be popular with browsers.
SNEAK PEEK (click to enlarge)
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