The Russian Far East: A History [Paperback]

John Stephan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0804727015 | ISBN-13: 978-0804727013 | Publication Date: May 1, 1996

Based on a quarter-century of research by a leading authority on the area, this is a monumental survey from prehistoric times to the present. Drawing from political, diplomatic, economic, geographical, social, and cultural evidence, the book reveals that this vast, rugged, and supposedly insular land has harbored vibrantly cosmopolitan lifestyles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A coherent, literate, and always informed comprehensive history of the region that presents the Russian Far East as both more vibrant and cosmopolitan than the conventional picture. . . . Stephan has produced that rarest of academic monographs: a consistently reliable synthesis that is fun to read. . . . It should be a standard English-language reference tool on the Russian Far East for years to come.”—International History Review

From the Back Cover

“A coherent, literate, and always informed comprehensive history of the region that presents the Russian Far East as both more vibrant and cosmopolitan than the conventional picture. . . . Stephan has produced that rarest of academic monographs: a consistently reliable synthesis that is fun to read. . . . It should be a standard English-language reference tool on the Russian Far East for years to come.”—International History Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 508 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804727015
• ISBN-13: 978-0804727013
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,276,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vladivostok and the Amur, October 14, 2009

By 

Benjamin Trovato - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Russian Far East: A History (Paperback)

Despite its title, this book is about the politics of the Amur basin and the Primorsk since about 1850. It has a definite American and cold war flavor, but no bias that I can see. Good overview.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars many missed opportunities for China, June 23, 2010

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Russian Far East: A History (Hardcover)

When the book describes the history of the region prior to the 20th century, the reader might be struck by the sheer ineptitude and incompetence of the Chinese dynasties. They failed to recognise the import of the incursions by the Tsarist forces into what for a millennium was part of the Chinese sphere of influence. The inward looking nature of the Chinese imperial government was taken advantage of by Tsars that encouraged the eastward expansion across the Urals.

There were occasions when China did respond aggressively, and indeed drove back Russian forces. But a lack of follow through doomed those efforts. There can be a palpable frustration, as the geographic proximity of China to the regions made its logistics far simpler than Russia's.

The rewriting of history by the Soviets included the massive deprecating of Chinese influences in their far eastern regions. In contrast, the book attempts to give a more accurate portrayal of the historical contributions.