Russians as People

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RUSSIANS WRIGHT ASPEOF MILLER Preface by Alexander Dallin Illustrated with 8 pages of photographs Superbly written, this book is an exceptionally fine analysis of the Russian people and of the vast country which shapes their national character. This is not a political book, although Communism is briefly and dispassionately discussed; instead, the author plunges us up to the neck in the mood and smell and taste of Russia: the fearsome winters and the stale, sweaty life in the peasant huts; the cities, subways and apartments; the monasteries, citadels and country houses. We learn of the influence of the long winter nights on the Russian character, the people's innocent, childlike emotions, their lack of self-consciousness, their black moods and broad cheer, their manners, morals, taste and traditions. Above all, we come to understand clearly the strength and weakness of the traditional Russian spirit of community, or collectivity as it is now expressed within the Soviet system. "I... Tovább

Fülszöveg

RUSSIANS WRIGHT ASPEOF MILLER Preface by Alexander Dallin Illustrated with 8 pages of photographs Superbly written, this book is an exceptionally fine analysis of the Russian people and of the vast country which shapes their national character. This is not a political book, although Communism is briefly and dispassionately discussed; instead, the author plunges us up to the neck in the mood and smell and taste of Russia: the fearsome winters and the stale, sweaty life in the peasant huts; the cities, subways and apartments; the monasteries, citadels and country houses. We learn of the influence of the long winter nights on the Russian character, the people's innocent, childlike emotions, their lack of self-consciousness, their black moods and broad cheer, their manners, morals, taste and traditions. Above all, we come to understand clearly the strength and weakness of the traditional Russian spirit of community, or collectivity as it is now expressed within the Soviet system. "I should like to recommend Russians as People with the utmost possible warmth to anyone who would really like to know what Russian people are like, above all, the ways in which they differ from us, and what makes them tick . . . I am convinced that the inquiring foreigner can learn from this book more about the real nature of Soviet leadership and the Communist Party than from any formai history or biography." -Edward Crankshaw, The Observer (London) "Mr. Miller has produced one of the most impressive of all contemporary reports on Russia." -The New York Times Book Review Vissza