In its 850 years as the seat of power on Russia, the Kremlin has seen almost constant drama and intrigue; the very being of the nation has centred upon it and been moulded by those ruling from within. There have been few paragons of virtue and many rogues, few democrats and many demagogues. In this book, translated from the Russian, the lively, character-driven text provides a dramatic insight into a world of which we have known little. It is a tale of corruptive instincts, the ebb and flow of national fortunes, dark deeds in the crucible of power and a sinister pursuit of patronage and influence. The author turns on many occasions to the words of the leaders themselves or to those who knew them; many of these pieces have never been published before. It is a history book that is a thrilling and absorbing read, it is a mystery book - for mystery is an ancient Kremlin tradition! It is also an analysis of personality, power and corruption....but, most of all, it is a chilling insight into one of the most closed nations of the world.
3.1*