20 best books on the history of Russia

*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The history of Russia has more than a thousand years, starting from the resettlement of the Eastern Slavs and ending with the present. Its study allows you to expand your personal experience, enriching it with the experience of previous generations, and build a holistic picture of the world. Especially for those who are interested in this, our experts have prepared a rating of the 20 best books on the history of Russia.

Rating of the best books on the history of Russia

History of the Russian state, N. M. Karamzin

Rating: 5.0

The work “History of the Russian State” consists of 12 volumes, the writing of which N.M. Karamzin devoted 22 years of his life. Historical work covers the period from ancient times to the beginning of the XNUMXth century (“Time of Troubles”).

This is the first comprehensive description of the whole history in Russia. It was compiled with the approval and support of the king, so the author had free access to all materials and sources of great value.

A big plus is the illustrations that give a vivid idea of ​​the events and people described by the author. The book is easy and interesting to read. The complete edition contains useful notes and extracts from manuscripts that no longer exist.

On sale you can only find the complete edition, which includes all 12 volumes. The text has been adapted for the modern reader, so all Old Russian words and expressions have been removed. The table of contents is at the end of the book.

Slavs. Ancient Russian people. Historical and archaeological research”, Valentin Sedov

Rating: 4.9

This is the best historical work on the ethnogenesis of the Slavs. From this book you will learn about how the independent path of the Slavs began, how separate ethnic groups and even languages ​​were formed. The work covers the period from the first century BC to the early Middle Ages.

The book consists of two fundamental monographs: “Slavs” and “Old Russian people”. The work is backed by reliable materials from archeology and history, and has useful notes to help you study all the material.

Book by V.S. Sedova is beautifully decorated. The story is accompanied by many illustrations, black-and-white diagrams and maps. An excellent choice for students of historical and cultural specialties, as well as for anyone interested in Russian history.

From Rus’ to Russia, Lev Gumilyov

Rating: 4.8

The next work that we recommend for acquaintance with the history of Russia is the book “From Rus’ to Russia”, written by L.N. Gumilyov. It covers the period from Rurik to Peter I, while all events and actions are explained from the author’s point of view.

The main advantage of the book is its enormous historical value. At the same time, it is combined with the author’s non-standard view of all historical events and faces. An excellent choice to get acquainted with history without complicated terms and turns.

The work is written in a lively and overview language, it is interesting to read. All factual material is easily and simply digested, therefore the book is recommended by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia as a teaching material.

Word about Igor’s Campaign, unknown author

Rating: 4.7

This is the greatest monument of literature of Ancient Rus’. The plot is based on the unsuccessful campaign of the Russian princes, led by Igor Svyatoslavovich, against the Polovtsians in 1185. The most famous episode is the crying of Yaroslavna, the young wife of Prince Igor.

This is a unique and powerful piece. It has a rather heavy syllable, so it is recommended to read it at least 2 times. It is a combination of different artistic means and images, as well as historical events.

“The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” is a work that allows you to learn not only about historical events, but also about the character of the Russian people. You can read the poem in the Old Russian language (original) or in an adapted version, which is much easier to understand.

History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the XNUMXth century, S. M. Solovyov

Rating: 4.6

This book covers all events in the history of Russia: from the first mention in the annals to the 30th century. The writing of this work took XNUMX years for S.M. Solovyov, who carefully and in detail studied each event and stated it as clearly as possible for the reader.

The historical work is complemented by many color and black-and-white illustrations that allow you to feel the atmosphere of each of the historical periods. The narrative captivates from the first pages: the entire array of history is consecrated clearly, in detail and consistently.

You can purchase the complete edition or individual volumes. The second option is convenient for those who want to carefully and in detail study the work of S.M. Solovyov. The complete edition includes all 29 volumes and is suitable for a general introduction to the history of Russia.

Illustrated Russian History, Vasily Klyuchevsky

Rating: 4.5

The main feature of this work is the analysis of historical events and persons. V. Klyuchevsky carefully and in detail described the entire history of Russia, and also substantiated the factors and reasons explaining why it happened this way and not otherwise.

The author’s own opinion about the events deserves special attention. The course of lectures presented in the book was first published in 1904. It includes a description of 100 main facts that influenced the formation of the Russian people and the formation of the state.

In the book, the text of the lectures is presented in a modern presentation. It is complemented by a large number of colorful illustrations based on old engravings and drawings. A wonderful choice for lovers of Russian history.

Young Russia, Yuri German

Rating: 4.5

Y. Herman’s book is devoted to the transformations of the Russian state that took place at the turn of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries in the era of Peter the Great. It allows you to get acquainted with such events as the liberation of Russian lands along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the defense of the port of Arkhangelsk.

The best work about Peter the Great and his time. Light style, careful description of historical characters and events. The most reliable and detailed work provides a deep immersion in the material and ease of understanding.

Despite the fact that there are no illustrations in the book, this does not make it worse than the works of other historians. This is an epic novel, while many of the problems that were described in it remain relevant even in our time.

Part of Europe. History of the Russian state. From the origins to the Mongol invasion, Boris Akunin

Rating: 4.5

This is a 9 volume book series. They are devoted to different periods in the history of Russia: from the invasion of the Mongols to the collapse of the Russian empire. The main goal of the author is to retell the history of Russia to the reader, while maintaining the maximum reliability of the facts.

An excellent choice to understand many historical processes. This is something between scientific work and fiction. It is easy to read, does not contain complex turns and speech structures.

The reviews write that this is the most objective retelling of historical facts. Pros: light (“proprietary”) style of narration, lack of ideological framework, apolitical point of view of the author.

Genghis Khan, Vasily Yan

Rating: 4.4

The next place in the ranking is occupied by the historical novel “Genghis Khan”, which tells about the great commander of the XIII century. It was created on the basis of reliable written sources, therefore it is of great historical value.

This is a lively and interesting description of history. Significant scenes and events are vividly and excitingly described. The novel strictly follows the real story and allows you to study it on the basis of an artistic image, and most importantly, to obtain useful information.

Among the features of the book are the good style of the author, the artistic style of presentation, many illustrations and an oriental accent. This is a historically accurate work with its own unique style and imagery.

Dynasty without makeup, Edvard Radzinsky

Rating: 4.4

This is a series of works dedicated to the representatives of the Romanov dynasty, including the last Emperor of Russia – Nicholas II. The work has historical value because it is based on archival data and documents.

The book is interesting in that the author often gives his own assessment of current events. He tries not just to retell, but to show the reader the human side of famous people in Russian history and interesting details that could previously have gone unnoticed.

The reviews write that when reading, the painstaking work of the writer is visible. Many new and unknown facts are revealed to readers. The work is written in an easy and accessible way, especially for those who are fond of the history and culture of Russia.

History of Russia from Rurik to Putin. People. Events. Dates, Evgeny Anisimov

Rating: 4.3

A good choice for those who want to have an idea about the history of Russia. Very informative yet easy to understand book. Written by one of the prominent historians of our time and based on objective sources, so there is no doubt about the authenticity.

The main feature of the book is the original structure. Along with the chronological presentation, separate headings (“People”, “Events”, etc.) are highlighted in it. Each page is dedicated to a specific date or episode, so you can read it from almost anywhere.

Judging by the numerous reviews, this is an excellent edition. It is presented in sufficient detail and written in a lively language. There are color inserts with pictures, photographs and diagrams. The best gift for those who are interested in the formation of Russia.

Russia’s Two Ways, Richard Pipes

Rating: 4.3

We included this book in the rating because it was written by the patriarch of American political science – Richard Pipes. For many years he was director of the Research Center for Russian Studies at Harvard University and wrote dozens of books about the USSR.

In his work, the author writes about what is happening in Russia now. In his opinion, modern Russians feel isolated from the rest of the world and do not know which development model to choose. An independent and unbiased opinion that is interesting to get to know.

The work contains a large number of interviews, speeches and excerpts from the words of Richard Pipes. Some categorically disagree with his opinion, others completely agree with him. However, it will be possible to make your decision only after reading the book in full.

Historical miniatures, Valentin Pikul

Rating: 4.3

The publication consists of 50 miniatures, representing a gallery of portraits of prominent personalities of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries. Each miniature is a brief story about a historical person who left his mark on the formation of Russia.

The writing of miniatures was preceded by years of painstaking work, the study of archives and documents. V. Pikul supplements his stories with notes that make the miniatures truly unique and increase the emotional level of the texts.

They contain not just a description, but also personal and intimate moments of the characters. There are funny and curious moments that happened to the main persons of the country. You will not be able to find information contained in miniatures even in historical reference books.

All the Kremlin army. A Brief History of Modern Russia, Mikhail Zygar

Rating: 4.3

The best choice for exploring the latest history of Russia. The book describes events from 2000 to 2015 throughout the reign of Vladimir Putin. The work is based on documents, open sources and interviews taken by the author personally from the president’s inner circle.

This book is a collection of events, intrigues and opinions of the characters. They provide a complete picture of the life of the Kremlin and allow us to understand how Vladimir Putin turned from a liberal president into an authoritarian ruler and a vocal opponent of the West.

The product is of very high quality. Unusually written. We recommend it for reading, even if you do not share the author’s political beliefs, because it is written quite impartially. The reviews note that it is difficult to stop reading from the very first pages.

Sovereigns of Moscow, Dmitry Balashov

Rating: 4.3

This is a series of 11 books dedicated to Russian history. They are based on numerous studies that have come down to the present in the form of documents, annals and archival records. They allow you to understand the events and feel the atmosphere of that distant time.

We immediately warn you that this is not a work that is easy to read “on the first try.” However, it allows you to get complete information about the Russian rulers and persons close to them. The author interestingly tells not only about the quarrels and strife of the princes, but also about the life of ordinary people.

The work of D. Balashov shows how the idea of ​​uniting Rus’ under the rule of one strong prince gradually arises and strengthens among people. The author considers the prerequisites for the formation of the Russian state and confirms them with facts.

Diaries of the Romanov princesses. Lost Lives

Rating: 4.2

Interesting, exciting and emotional work. A unique biographical work that carefully and in detail describes all the members of the family. How they grew up, how they were brought up, what character they had and how they acted in different situations.

The book consists of many chapters. They briefly but fully describe the life of the Romanov family before the execution. For writing, previously inaccessible materials from the archives were used. A must read for anyone interested in Russian history.

Readers say that this is an excellent and interesting work. It has many illustrations that perfectly complement the material. There are excerpts from diaries, but the narrative is based on the memoirs and letters of contemporaries.

Alexander I and the Decembrists: Russia in the first quarter of the XNUMXth century. Path choice

Rating: 4.2

The book is devoted to the history of Russia in the first quarter of the XNUMXth century and tells about the problems of politics. In this work, the author tries to find answers to the questions why at that time Russia did not become a constitutional monarchy, and most importantly, why serfdom was not abolished.

S. Mironenko explains how and why Alexander I understood the need to transform the foundations of government by the people. By his order, a draft constitution was drawn up and a solution to the peasant question. He tells how young officers rallied into secret societies and aspired to the same.

The piece is fairly easy to read. Makes you seriously think about the fate of the emperors. The author cites many reliable facts not only about domestic but also foreign policy. Special attention deserves the restoration of the Decembrists, which is scheduled by the minute.

Chronology of Russian history. Russia and the world, Evgeny Anisimov

Rating: 4.2

This work covers all the main events taking place on the territory of our country: from the calling of the Varangians to the election of Dmitry Medvedev as president. It is a review historical work.

The main feature of the book is that all the events in the country are described together with the world. This makes it possible to compare the formation of Russia and foreign countries, “writing” it into the overall process. All information is conveyed as objectively as possible, so the reader forms his own opinion after reading.

The book is written brightly and simply, like other works of E. Anisimov. The work is easy to read, despite the impressive array of information. Great for a first acquaintance with historical facts, events and processes.

Trilogy “Original Rus'”, “Tales of Ancient Years”, “Great Rus'”

Rating: 4.1

The trilogy is dedicated to events taking place from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth centuries. Here the author acts not only as a writer, but also as a researcher. He draws several lines at once, considering not only the formation of the Slavs, but also the accompanying processes.

The style is quite complicated, so it’s not easy to read either. The novel is classified as an epic, but more like a kaleidoscope. Each new chapter is a new picture, so you can start reading from any of them, focusing on the content of the work.

Choosing your story. Forks in the path of Russia: from the Rurikovich to the oligarchs, Igor Kurukin, Irina Karatsuba, Nikita Sokolov

Rating: 4.0

This is one of the most interesting, but at the same time debatable collections on the history of Russia over the past 15 years. It is devoted to the review of alternative ways of development and formation of the state. There were 28 such moments, according to the authors. A separate essay is devoted to each of them.

Reading the book, you will be able to get acquainted with the historical facts and reasoning of the authors about the origin of civil society. They constitute an open topic of historical choice and argue that the path of the state is always chosen by specific people, guided by their own will.

The work is written in accessible language. Easy to read and interesting. Work on the collection was carried out for two years. The final edition was published in 2005, causing considerable controversy among both professional and ordinary readers.

Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.