"For anyone who wants an insight into the nature of Russian society before the revolution, there is no doubt that Professor Pipes has written the book."--Lionel Kochan, Jewish Chronicle

This highly acclaimed study from Richard Pipes analyzes the evolution of the Russian state from the ninth century to the 1880s and its unique role in managing Russian society. The harsh geographical conditions and sheer size of the country prevented the creation of participatory government, and a "patrimonial" state emerged in which Russia was transformed into a gigantic royal domain. Richard...