or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
27 used & new from $7.48

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
Sorry!
The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition (Paperback)

~ Dr. Andrew Wilson (Author), (Author) "The 'land of Rus', that Prince Ihor of Chernihiv set out to defend in 1185 was the early medieval kingdom of Kievan Rus, the dominant..." (more)
Key Phrases: nakanune vyborov, continental space, Orthodox Church, Black Sea, Greek Catholics (more...)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

List Price: $19.00
Price: $17.10 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $1.90 (10%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
11 new from $13.26 16 used from $7.48

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover -- $15.00 $7.99
  Paperback $17.10 $13.26 $7.48

Frequently Bought Together

The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition + Borderland: A Journey through the History of  Ukraine + Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
Price For All Three: $35.51

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition by Dr. Andrew Wilson

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Borderland: A Journey through the History of Ukraine by Anna Reid

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture by Anna Shevchenko

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

by Anna Shevchenko
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  $9.95
Ukraine, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide

Ukraine, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide

by Andrew Evans
4.0 out of 5 stars (16)  $16.49
Ukraine's Orange Revolution

Ukraine's Orange Revolution

by Dr. Andrew Wilson
4.4 out of 5 stars (5)  $20.58
Ukraine: A History

Ukraine: A History

by Orest Subtelny
4.8 out of 5 stars (8)  $39.06
Ukraine (Country Guide)

Ukraine (Country Guide)

by Sarah Johnstone
3.9 out of 5 stars (11)  $17.24
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Since the 1990s, journalists, academics, politicians and the public have groped for some sense of the history, culture and politics of emerging, post-communist independent statesACroatia, Macedonia, Slovakia, Belarus, Slovenia and the like. In 1991 Ukraine joined the ranks of these new states and emerged as a pivotal player in the new alignment of Eurasian politics. Wilson, a lecturer in Ukrainian studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies of University College in London, provides a comprehensive overview (more scholarly than popular) of Ukraine's history, focusing on questions of national identity and describing Ukraine as a recent invention as a nation. For Ukraine, he suggests, national identity revolves around the complex and fluctuating relation between Ukraine and Russia, from the contested views of medieval Kievan Rus and its national origins (Ukrainian or Russian or both?), to the troubles faced by a modern Ukraine with a significant Russian and Russian-speaking population. Wilson presents Ukraine as a cultural construct, a creation of both Ukrainian and Russian imagination and politics; as a result, the book will displease those who dismiss poststructuralist views of national identity. Still, thorough, rigorous and informative, Wilson's survey promises to sharpen Westerners' perceptions of the surviving East-West divide along the European and Russian border. Because it is "a vital 'swing' state" in Eastern Europe, Ukraine's past and future, Wilson convincingly argues, should very much concern us. Illus. not seen by PW. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


From Library Journal

This marvelous work examines Ukrainian history and politics in light of the literature of the country's nationalism. Legends of a heroic past buttress feelings of kinship within national groups, and nationalists, consequently, look to antiquity to rally popular support. Accordingly, Wilson (Ukrainian studies, University Coll., London) surveys the myth of national origin conveyed by Ukraine's supposed biblical origins and the lays (ballads) of ancient Russia. Memories of past grievances, such as subjugation to foreign powers, typically bolster national sentiments. Though Russia dominated the country until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukrainians take pride in their ancient culture, and the widespread use of the Russian language is a daily reminder to the Ukrainians of their traumatic past. Wilson rounds out the study by assessing the country's economic prospects and sketching a future course for Ukrainian geopolitics. As always, the past informs the politics of today. A perfect introduction to a fascinating culture; strongly recommended for all libraries.DJames R. Holmes, Ph.D. candidate, Fletcher Sch. of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts Univ., Medford, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Yale University Press; 2 edition (June 1, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0300093098
  • ISBN-13: 978-0300093094
  • Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.7 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #244,610 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #34 in  Books > History > Europe > Ukraine
    #49 in  Books > History > Europe > Former Soviet Republics & Siberia

More About the Author

Andrew Wilson
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Andrew Wilson Page

Inside This Book (learn more)




What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition
60% buy the item featured on this page:
The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Second edition 4.6 out of 5 stars (14)
$17.10
Borderland: A Journey through the History of  Ukraine
18% buy
Borderland: A Journey through the History of Ukraine 4.0 out of 5 stars (34)
$8.46
Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
11% buy
Ukraine - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture 5.0 out of 5 stars (4)
$9.95
A History of Ukraine
6% buy
A History of Ukraine 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
$29.57

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(5)
(4)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for a Knowledge of Modern Ukraine, May 12, 2001
If you want to know about Ukraine but don't read Ukrainian, this is the book for you. Beginning with the myths of pre-history and working up through 1999, Andrew Wilson gives the reader a sense of what it is to be Ukrainian. This is no easy task because Ukraine is a diverse place with a west that is totally different than its east, and with many regional differences in between. He calls it an unexpected nation because its ethnic, linguistic, religious and regional diversity makes it hard for many people to think of it as a single nation. He deals with the complex relationship Ukraine has with its eastern neighbor Russia. Many Ukrainians are of Russian descent and Russian is still the language spoken in many parts of the country. Both countries lay claim to Kyiv as their ancient capital and many of their ancient heroes are the same. Ukraine lies on the border between western Europe and Eurasian Russia. Its western people look to Europe for commerce and culture just as its eastern regions favor Russia.

Although its borders have changed as often as its political fate, Wilson does an admirable job of inclusion. He writes about Western Ukraine, the Crimea and the Donbas (eastern Ukraine) as well as the Ukraine of Kyiv. Often this makes the book difficult to read because so many different regions and their unique perspectives must be taken into consideration. Yet this is what ultimately makes the book so rewarding.

Although Wilson makes use of copious footnoting, most of his references are to Ukrainian language sources that will be inaccessible to his readers. He does an admirable job of introducing us to the major players in the shaping of this new nation; yet seeking out more on any particular aspect of the story may be difficult. Wilson does provide a fine Bibliographical Essay at the end of the book to further sources in English or other Western languages that will satisfy the interested reader seeking further information.

The book has many fine black-and-white maps that illustrate the points in the text. Also included are two sections of black-and-white and color plates that bring life to many of the ideas presented. At the beginning of the book is a Chronology with two separate time lines: one for Politics and History and the second for Culture. This helps to put the wealth of information presented into a structured framework.

The author focuses on economic, political and religious power and thought and the literary and artistic expression of these in fine arts and literature. His approach is chronological, working from ancient myths and their modern interpretations, through the history of the region, right on up to the present day and the 1998 elections. It would be marvelous if a new edition would come out that includes the results of the year 2000 elections.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Cautionary note, October 1, 2003
By Alexander Sydorenko (Jonesboro, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Clearly, Wilson's book may not be ignored by anyone who who is interested in the pesky "Ukrainian Question." One must admire his scope (from antiquity to the present, post-Soviet Ukraine--one half of the book is dedicated to post 1991 Ukraine)and the depth of his research. Its greatest merit lies in that it offers an "outsider's" perspective to the traditional russocentric or "nationalistic" readings of the Ukrainian history and identity. On the other hand, its explicit agenda to "debunk myths" and to "set the record straight" proves somewhat too facile and, ultimately, unfair. It is not that Ukrainians are devoid of "mythologies" or that the current post-Soviet Ukrainian elites are not prone to create new myths. But so what? Ukraine's "elder brother," Putin's Russia (or, for that matter, George Bush's U.S.A) does not subscribe to persistent national mythologies. Wilson is correct in sending warning salvos against various self-seving interpretations of the Ukrainian by some national historians, but his determination to completely "de-construct" Ukrainian nationality leads to a dead-end. Thus, despite the many details and frequent insights, in the end Wilson fails to resolve the very question which he set to analyze: what is a "Ukrainian?" This is a central issue that goes beyond Wilson's personal academic interest, inasmuch some 300 years of Russian imperial control, cultural and linguistic repressions, and territorial fragmentation still haunt the national Ukrainian psyche. Timely as this book is, it only raises more questions, which the author fails to resolve with such rhetorical stunts as "supposedly," "could" and "should." That is intellectual cheating.

The reader, therefore, should read this book not only with interest but also with great care and not be swayed by its breezy
prose, implied objectivity and casual arrogance. Even those previous reviewers, whose disdain for President Kuchma and his cronies I fully share, should balance Wilson's model of Ukrainian nationhood with alternate narratives. This is a good book, but it should not be considered definitive.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The one book to read about Ukraine, October 1, 2002
By Bohdan Hodiak (Lviv, Ukraine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I was immensely impressed with Professor Wilson's book on Ukraine. He starts with pre-historic times and ends with the 21st century, showing why this country of 50 million people is important and why it is in a critical period in its history.
Wilson's knowledge is immense, the result of much scholarship, interviews and many visits. His is an objective view that aims to be fair, which means that many members of the Ukrainian political right and left will be displeased with parts of this book.
I found that it filled many gaps in my knowledge and underlined Ukraine's precarious stuation. It is now ruled by a ... elite (read old communist commisars) an elite that has no loyalty to the Ukrainian people. It has tried to plunder the country's resources as quickly as possible. This elite is not interested in the rule of law or fair taxation. ...
So the country has venal oligarchs on the right, supporting Kuchma, and the communist party on the left. It is still powerful in Ukraine's parliament and is oppsed to any real economic reform.
Ukraine needs a miracle or else it will again be swallowed up by Russia, which as Profesor Wilson points out, will not be good for the world. Not onl;y will the attempt mean a civil war but if Russia succeeds it will once again try for empire.
A final note: this is not an entertainment, a fun read, like many books about countries. You have to be seriously interested in understanding modern Ukraine. Look at it more as a textbook. I found it invaluable, especially this new edition which brings it up to 2002.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading on Ukraine
Andrew Wilson's history of Ukraine is unlike any other book written on the subject. It does not attempt to cover the entire history of Ukraine from classical antiquity to the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Greg

4.0 out of 5 stars Short-concise history
"The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation" by Andrew Wilson is a wonderful introduction to a now well-known country and people. Read more
Published 24 months ago by J. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars A divide steeped in history
This book goes a long way towards explaining the complexity of Ukraine, a nation that is divided in accepting or rejecting the different identities the world knows of it. Read more
Published on April 13, 2007 by John T C

5.0 out of 5 stars Topic best done by an outsider
Wilson covers a lot of ground and gives a good sense of the historical background and issues surrounding "what is a Ukrainian" without taking sides - something tough for a... Read more
Published on October 20, 2006 by D. Anderson

4.0 out of 5 stars Recent Historical Perspective
Although the book spans a long period of time, it provides the most useful detail on the post independence period that has had the most impact on the US and the world post Soviet... Read more
Published on February 11, 2006 by Truth Teller

3.0 out of 5 stars Only one flaw, but an important one
This book is remarkable in that it avoided taking sides in the great nationalistic battle between Ukrainians, Russians, and Poles. Read more
Published on November 29, 2005 by N. Ravitch

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this to understand the Orange Revolution
Readers wanting to understand recent events in Ukraine will find this book indispensable.
Published on December 16, 2004 by WRY

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written and Comprehensive On Current Events
I believe this book was very well-written and fair in its evaluation of Ukrainian history. I based these comments in part on my Ukrainian descent; and my travels and discussions... Read more
Published on January 7, 2003 by Andrew Saporoschenko

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written and Comprehensive On Current Evetns
I believe this book was very well-written and fair in its evaluation of Ukrainian history. I based these comments in part on my Ukrainian descent; and my travels and discussions... Read more
Published on January 7, 2003 by Andrew Saporoschenko

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for any person remotely interested in Ukraine
Wow what can I say, Mr.Wilson has written a book that will set the standard for all future works for Ukraine. Read more
Published on December 31, 2002 by DICK

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.