Red Fortress: History And Illusion In The Kremlin

Description

A magisterial, richly detailed history of the Kremlin, and of the centuries of Russian elites who have shaped it--and been shaped by it in turnThe Kremlin is the heart of the Russian state, a fortress whose blood-red walls have witnessed more than eight hundred years of political drama and extraordinary violence. It has been the seat of a priestly monarchy and a worldly church; it has served as a crossroads for diplomacy, trade, and espionage; it has survived earthquakes, devastating fires, and at least three revolutions. Its very name is a byword for enduring power. From Ivan the Terrible to Vladimir Putin, generations of Russian leaders have sought to use the Kremlin to legitimize their vision of statehood.Drawing on a dazzling array of sources from hitherto unseen archives and rare collections, renowned historian Catherine Merridale traces the full history of this enigmatic fortress. The Kremlin has inspired innumerable myths, but no invented tales could be more dramatic than the operatic successions and savage betrayals that took place within its vast compound of palaces and cathedrals. Today, its sumptuous golden crosses and huge electric red stars blaze side by side as the Kremlin fulfills its centuries-old role, linking the country's recent history to its distant past and proclaiming the eternal continuity of the Russian state.More than an absorbing history of Russia's most famous landmark, "Red Fortress" uses the Kremlin as a unique lens, bringing into focus the evolution of Russia's culture and the meaning of its politics.

Author description

Catherine Merridale is the author of the critically acclaimed "Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945," and "Night of Stone: Death and Memory in Russia." A professor of contemporary history at Queen Mary University of London, she has also written for "The Guardian," the "Literary Review," and the "London Review of Books," and contributes regularly to broadcasts on BBC radio. She lives in Oxfordshire, England.