Russian Modernity

This book represents the first concerted effort to place 19th and 20th century Russia in European context, as well as to understand Soviet Russia against the historical background of Imperial Russia. In a wide-ranging selection of topics—from corporal punishment to diary-writing, from the rise of nationalism to biological engineering—the authors argue that Russia shared in a larger European modernity marked by increased overlap and sometimes merger of realms that had previously been treated as separate entities: the social and the political, state and society, government and economy, and private and public.

This book represents the first concerted effort to place 19th and 20th century Russia in European context, as well as to understand Soviet Russia against the historical background of Imperial Russia. In a wide-ranging selection of topics--from corporal punishment to diary-writing, from the rise of nationalism to biological engineering--the authors argue that Russia shared in a larger European modernity marked by increased overlap and sometimes merger of realms that had previously been treated as separate entities: the social and the political, state and society, government and economy, and private and public.

Booknews

Places 19th- and 20th-century Russia in European context and offers insight on Soviet Russia against the background of Imperial Russia. Writing on topics ranging from corporal punishment to biological engineering, contributors argue that Russia shared in a larger European modernity marked by merger of social and political realms. Chapters are in sections on consciousness and universalism in pre- reform Russia, reform and revolution as modern moments, the paradox of human redeemability in Soviet Russia, and narrative and identity in the Soviet context. Hoffmann teaches history at Ohio State University. Kotsonis teaches history at New York University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

David L. Hoffman is Associate Professor of History at Ohio State University.

Yanni Kotsonis teaches European and Russian history at New York University.