Accessible to students, tourists and general readers alike, this book provides a broad overview of Russian history since the ninth century. Paul Bushkovitch emphasizes the enormous changes in the understanding of Russian history resulting from the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, new material has come to light on the history of the Soviet era, providing new conceptions of Russia's pre-revolutionary past. The book traces not only the political history of Russia, but also developments in its literature, art and science. Bushkovitch describes well-known cultural figures, such as Chekhov, Tolstoy and Mendeleev, in their institutional and historical contexts. Though the 1917 revolution, the resulting Soviet system and the Cold War were a crucial part of Russian and world history, Bushkovitch presents earlier developments as more than just a prelude to Bolshevik power.

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State Service in Sixteenth Century Novgorod is about the first century of the legal development of the pomestie established by Ivan III after the conquest of Novgorod. The cadasters from the two provinces (Shelonskaia and Vodskaia) with the highest concentration of pomesties showed most remained in the original landlord's family. The acquisition of additional land from deceased family members and the exchanges for land near other relatives without the state's prior permission is evidence of its recognition of the family's interest in the land. Although the turnover was higher after the 1550s, most estates no longer in the original families' possession were abandoned or confiscated by Ivan IV's oprichniks. Since patrimonial votchinas were confiscated too, the higher turnover is evidence of the tsar's fear of treason rather than the pomestie's conditionality. The continuing possession of most Vodskaia tax units held in pomestie tenure in 1582 by the original landlords' families enfeoffed a century earlier supports this thesis. These findings negate the traditional distinction between the conditional pomestie and allodial votchina. The loyal pomeshchiks of sixteenth century Russia could expect to pass their lands to other family members as long as they served the state.

Mission to Novgorod begins in Moscow at the height of the Cold War when, due to the confluence of unusual circumstances, an expert at the sophisticated art of electronic snooping is asked to kill a fellow American in the name of national security. Reluctantly agreeing, a hastily trained USAF Major Tom Collins (yes, it's his real name; his dad was an alcoholic) survives a dangerous underwater journey down the Volkhov River and arrives at the Kremlin in the ancient city of Novgord. There he finds his prey in the act of being raped by one of her Soviet guards. Tom places the sight of his sniper weapon on the victim's chest and.the proverbial the rest of the story begins. Mission peels back the thin veneer of honor and respect with which the spy game cloaks itself and reveals the underside of that dubious venture: the lies, the perfidy, and the misdirection that can so readily turn good souls into bad. It also is a story of courage, forbearance and sacrifice as our two heroes match wits and perseverance with the guys who should be on their side but are not because of what they consider a greater calling.