This is terrific - and an amazing achievement to cover so much ground in such a short and wonderfully readable book. ? Peter FrankopanAn informative, perceptive and exhilarating canter through 1,000 tumultuous years ? SpectatorFascinating... One of the most astute political commentators on Putin and modern Russia ? Financial Times Professor Mark Galeotti is one of the foremost Russia-watchers today, who travels there regularly to teach, lecture, talk to his contacts, and generally watch the unfolding story of the Putin era. Based in London, he is Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Institute of International Relations Prague, having previously headed its Centre for European Security, and was before then Professor of Global Affairs at NYU. A prolific author on Russia and security affairs, he frequently acts as consultant to various government, commercial and law-enforcement agencies.