Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Russka by Edward Rutherfurd - Available

Russka

The Novel of Russia

by Edward Rutherfurd
Wanda McCaddon
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 2 copies available

Russka is the story of four families who are divided by ethnicity but united in shaping the destiny of Russia. From a single riverside village situated at one of the country's geographic crossroads, Russia's Slav peasant origins are influenced by the Greco-Iranian, Khazar, Jewish, and Mongol invasions. Unified by this one place, the many cultures blend to form a rich and varied tapestry.

Rutherfurd's grand saga is as multifaceted as Russia itself: harsh yet exotic, proud yet fearful of enemies, steeped in ancient superstitions but always seeking to shape the emerging world. Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, and Lenin all play their roles in creating and destroying the land and its people.

In Russka, Edward Rutherfurd has transformed the epic history of a great civilization into a human story of flesh and blood.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 20, 2012

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781483076935
      • File size: 1149097 KB
      • Duration: 39:53:57

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 29, 1991
      With his second sprawling historical novel, Rutherfurd moves from his hometown of Salisbury, England, the site of the bestselling Sarum , to the rich foreign soil of Russia. Though the structure and style mirror that of his first saga, Rutherfurd's close observation of Russia's religious and ethnic diversity give this epic a distinctive flavor. Focusing on the changing fortunes of the small town of Russka and its controlling families, Rutherfurd moves from the tribes of the steppes in the second century A.D. through Cossacks, Tatars, Tsars, revolution and Stalin to touch on a contemporary Russian emigre community near New York City. He weaves an expansive tapestry of Russian lore with a vivid exploration of the historical influences on the modern Russian psyche. Though thoroughly researched, the novel is diminished by occasional soap-opera twists in the narrative thread and present-day phrasing (``pin money,'' ``red tape,'' ``heads or tails'') used in distracting asides to the reader. Literary Guild selection.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      What a pleasant way to learn history! Rutherfurd takes us back to the year 900 and illustrates the creation of Russia's complex population through fictional characters, their lifestyles andhardships. Ten centuries of historical facts are all in place, but the fictional thread makes the saga comprehensible. The effects of tyranny are easier to understand when they relate to ordinary people. Nadia May brings her usual expertise to the reading of this immense opus. Slight inflections emphasize distinctive characterizations. Her musical voice allows the listener to enjoy the story while absorbing the history and geography of Mother Russia. J.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 26, 1992
      Rutherfurd weaves an expansive tapestry of Russian lore in this sprawling, occasionally soap-operatic historical novel--a seven-week PW bestseller and a Literary Guild selection in cloth--which vividly explores the historical influences on the modern Russian psyche.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading