Russia is a country of contradictions: a nation of cultural refinement and artistic originality and yet also a country that rules by 'the iron fist'. In this riveting history; Martin Sixsmith shows how Russia's complex identity has been formed over a thousand years; and how it can help us understand its often baffling behaviour at home and abroad. Combining in-depth research and interviews with his personal experiences as a former BBC Moscow correspondent; Sixsmith skilfully traces the conundrums of modern Russia to their roots in its troubled past; and explains the nation's seemingly split personality as the result of influences that have divided it for centuries. A Sunday Times bestseller; Russia is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex political landscape of this country; and its unique place in the modern world.