Russka: The Novel of Russia - Edward Rutherfurd
Reading start: 2018-01-01
Reading finish: 2018-01-31
As a Russian historian, may I just note that this book is way more fiction than history? Read it by all means, but don't kid yourselves that it's historically accurate, because it's not.
In fact, very little historical fiction on Russia (except books written by Russians) is at all accurate. If you want novels that are, you can try my Legends of the Five Directions series (The Golden Lynx, The Winged Horse, The Swan Princess, and The Vermilion Bird [last probably too new to be on BookLikes yet]) or Ann Swinfen's Voyage to Muscovy.
Most of the rest—even Dorothy Dunnett's The Ringed Castle—ranges from way behind the times to outright howlers (and I'm afraid Russka is in the latter category).
Good to know. I have enjoyed some of Ann Swinfen’s books, though I have not read that one.
I have to admit, my mind is wandering quite a bit during this one.
I read this when it came out - no idea if we still have it.
I'm still slogging through the audiobook. With many of Rutherfurd's books I am often captivated by a few small sections or a great character but the rest drags. I find myself wishing that he had written a novel expanding one of these bright spots instead of covering the centuries and broad cast of characters that he uses. But then he wouldn't be Rutherfurd, would he?