The Encyclopedia is an invaluable resource on recent and contemporary Russian culture and history for students, teachers, and researchers across the disciplines.

The alphabetically arranged entries lead readers to subjects as diverse as art, law, philosophy, and religion. The text defines various terms; explores the lives of influential artists, politicians, propagandists, writers, and royal figures; and provides vital information on Russia's past and current geographical boundaries. Features of the book include more than 2,500 encyclopedia entries that are cross-referenced and, where appropriate, include suggestions for further reading; a quick-reference chronology that tracks the important events in Russian history up to the time the volume went to press; a map reference section that features major cities, states, principalities, and historically significant neighboring dominions.

This book features highlights from Russian artist Vladimir Arkhipov's collection of unique inventions. These objects were made by ordinary Russians, at a time when the Soviet Union was in a state of collapse, often inspired by a lack of instant access to manufactured goods.

Written from a non-Western point of view, this work offers a fresh perspective on the postcommunist literary scene. The four sections of the book - literature, ideology, culture and methodology - reflect the range of postmodernism in contemporary Russia.