Russka

In this historical novel we follow the fate of four russian families, starting in the year 180 AD. The events revolve around the small village of Russka, east of modern day Moscow. This was an area which the slavs often lost to invaders and which they in their turn reclaimed repeatedly. It must be difficult to write a book which is both a novel and a history lesson, but Rutherfurd pulls it off. The end of the book is not as good as the rest, that is my only reservation.


Rutherfurd has managed to write so you get interested in not only the historic events themselves, but what happens to the main characters. The novel is a great way to learn about a vast and complex nation which I think remains enigmatic to a lot of people in the West. A superb book!