Medieval Russia, 980-1584 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks)

Rating:
Summary: A great textbook, but no fun to read...
Review: I have this text for my class in Medieval Russia, and the professor helps greatly in understanding it. It would have been nice of Martin to be kinder to Western readers who have no idea what is going on in Russia. Better to get familiar with the primary sources like "The Lay of Igor's campaign"...its a more engaging way to start Russian History. Just so you know, her main thesis seems to be that Kievan Russia did have an understandable orderly royal succession policy, not based on random violence between the princes.

Rating:
Summary: Reads more like social science than history.
Review: There is nothing medieval or Russian about the writing style, which is academic social science jargon circa 1995. Here is an example: "The approaches adopted by the young Ivan IV to regain political harmony were shaped by dynastic interests." Passive voice and two technical terms. Sure sounds like social science. I would not read this book for pleasure.

Rating:
Summary: Useful introduction
Review: This is a useful introduction to a subject which is poorly catered for in English, particularly the Kievan period. However, it starts abruptly (rather strangely) in 980, making no attempt whatever to explain the origins of Rus. Although it guides the reader well through the confusing conflicts between the Riurikid princes before the Mongol invasions, its 'traditional' view of a dynastic succession system has since been questioned (by Franklin and Shepard). The coverage of the Golden Horde and Muscovite periods presents less problems. Worth reading, especially for those who know little about the subject.