Known to many Russians as 'The Last Great Tsar', the final judgment on Alexander II must be that although some reform was achieved during...

The groundwork for a modern European Russia, laid down in the previous century by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, was eschewed...

ALBANIA Free - Coming of Age at the end of history by Lea Ypi. This memoir has received rave reviews and gives great insight into a...

From War to War 1914-41 A strange tale with which to begin: The Angel Makers of Nagyrev War breaks out (1914) and Franz Josef dies (1916)...

Peter died in 1725 at the relatively young age of 53. Russia ceased to build on Peter's reforms until the reign of Catherine II...

Peter's reign began in 1682 and ended with his death in 1725. He was a larger than life figure; quite literally as he stood at just over...

Short Introduction to the period 1867=1914 Two important players in Hungary's politics: Deak & the Empress The Compromise of 1867 that...

From Ottoman to Habsburg Rule 1699 1703-11 Hungarian Revolt under Rakocszi Maria Theresa 1740-80 Enlightened Absolutism Joseph II 1780-90...

Free Speech N.Warburton (OUP Very Short Introduction Series) The First Freedom N.Hentoff (American history of the concept) Burning...

At War with The Bolsheviks R.Jackson (Allied Forces during Russian Civil War) Ivan the Terrible I. De Madriaga Armies of Ivan the...

NB You can attend in person or by zoom (to book phone 020 7433 8988. Lecture 1: Early Days 896-1526 Introduction - A far away country of...

General Russian History G.Hosking (OUP Very Short Introduction) Russia M.Sixsmith The Romanovs All About History...

On Thursday 28 April I shall be teaching a Day School on this topic at JW3. You can still book by contacting JW3 Box Office - 020 7433...

Specific The Baltic States A Plakans A History of The Baltic States A Kasekamp The History of The Baltic States K O'Connor The...

WHITHER ITALY? Recap on last week: Berlusconi The Paradoxes of Italian Culture and the long-term Crisis of The Italian State Is Italy...

OUR RIVER JOURNEY COMES TO AN END Leonardo da Vinci Kenneth Graham Civilisation begins with rivers The Heart of Darkness Water...

We are so lucky to live in a country with glorious daffodils, as Spring returns once more. Where I live on England's South Coast there...

North American Indians Perdue & Green (OUP Short Introduction Series) *An Indigenous Peoples' History of The United States R...

Populism Mudde & Laltwasser Liberalism M.Freeden Populism M Burleigh Twilight of Democracy A Applebaum How Democracies...

THE BERLUSCONI YEARS Opening quotation to set the scene Berlusconi: .......the Early Years .......and the Mafia / P2 .......the very...