Binding: Hardcover
EAN: 9780563539124
ISBN: 0563539127
Label: BBC Books
Manufacturer: BBC Books
Number Of Pages: 576
Publication Date: May 01, 2008
Publisher: BBC Books
Studio: BBC Books

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.co.uk Review:
Russia is a massive book: sprawling, ambitious and richly detailed. Jonathan Dimbleby's subtitle is A Journey to the Heart of a Land and its People, and fears that he might have bitten off more than he can chew (both in this book and its accompanying TV series) are quickly allayed. What is most impressive about the book is its canny synthesis of a variety of genres: travelogue, history, social document: Russia is all of these and more, with the personal voice of the narrative by Dimbleby particularly illuminating, as he struggles to come to terms with the contradictions in this fascinating and infuriating country. It is, as the author says, a country that straddles half the globe, and contains a daunting amount of cultural and religious diversity. All of this is examined here, but any sage judgements are never delivered in sober-sided fashion -- we're always caught up in the drama of Dimbleby's journeys.

The author crossed eight time zones and covered 10,000 miles, from Murmansk in the Arctic Circle to the Asian city of Vladivostok. He travels by every available method: rail, road and sea, and manages to experience all the splendours and the miseries of this amazing country. But although the contours of the locales are conjured up with maximum vividness, there are also fascinating portraits of all the Russians that Dimbleby encounters, from intellectuals and struggling peasants to the new breed of fantastically successful entrepreneurs (many of whom, of course, are now making their home in London). The colour illustrations are well chosen, but it's the text that succeeds in taking the reader on this epic journey -- a journey that will transform completely most people's apprehension of the country. --Barry Forshaw.




Rating: - Pizdets...
Of course JD was able to work as a reporter in Russia without speaking any Russian...Re-Odd choice of presenter/writer. British reporters in Russia just follow the BBC/Times party line...so why would they have to speak any of the local language? The present Guardian correspondent speaks Russian like a small dim-witted child (from London). What chance does he have of digging up any good stories?

RE - Erroneous and misapprehending - Khordorkovsky is the hero of the BBC/liberal western ... Read More

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Rating: - Odd choice of presenter/writer
Jonathan Dimbleby is not a name you associate with travel writing. Having read this book all the way through, and watched all episodes of the series, it's not likely to become a name with such an association.

By his own admission, Dimbleby does not like travelling, does not like having to be away from home, and has a phobia about flying. He also speaks virtually no Russian and cannot read Cyrillic (yet was somehow able to function as a Moscow reporter during the Soviet Union days).
Read More

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Rating: - Much ado about nothing
I got this book as a gift- fortunately.
I have a good command of English, but I suspect that Dimbleby swallowed a dictionary before writing this. The content (of his 'adventures') is dull.
Nothing more than the self-indulgent musings of a self-pitying journo.
I only got to page 22 before consigning it to the charity shop.

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Rating: - Erroneous and misapprehending
After quick first reading I have found how difficult it could be for a West foreigner to learn Russia without more or less good knowledge of Russian language. That is good lesson for Russian authorities if especially they want to attract investments more actively and thus to reopen the country, make it easier to be understood.

In many aspects, the book is full with illusions and stereotypes. The author as a representative of older generation tries to find answers for questions which have ... Read More

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Rating: - Not that well presented
For the RRP of £25.00 this is certainly a goodly price. The book is a hardcover interspersed with photographs. I was expecting something more like Palins 'New Europe' ie lots of nice colour photography throughout and beautiful presentation. This is relatively dull in the way it is initially presented and I dont think offers such good value unless it is on sale. However the writing is interesting in places and there are not that many travelogues of Russia at the moment.

The preface ... Read More

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