ForumGarden

A great book of European Russias history spanning almost 2000 years. It's about Varangians, Alans, Mordvinians, Finns, Kievan Rus, Cumans and Mongol hordes, princes, priests, kings and queens, peasants, soldiers, Cossacks and Polish Hussaria.

The interesting thing is just how little in ways Russia has changed in some areas. There are still people who live out in the northern forests, in small villages without any modern comforts as we know. It's been that way for 1000s of years. Russians still wear felt Velenki, a winter boot.

Anyway a good intriguing read.

Russka (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've read several of his book and very fine they are too - Sarum and Dublin particularly are in the same mould of covering vast sweeps of history detailing the changes in a small area and following the lives of the families involved.

I'll look out for Russka and let you know how I get on.

It is a good book, I read it many years ago.