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Going Back in Time
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Start giftingRusska
The Novel of Russia
Narrator
Wanda McCaddon
This audiobook uses AI narration.
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Length
39 hours 53 minutes
Language
English
Russka is the story of four families who are divided by ethnicity but united in shaping the destiny of Russia. From a single riverside village situated at one of the country’s geographic crossroads, Russia’s Slav peasant origins are influenced by the Greco-Iranian, Khazar, Jewish, and Mongol invasions. Unified by this one place, the many cultures blend to form a rich and varied tapestry.
Rutherfurd’s grand saga is as multifaceted as Russia itself: harsh yet exotic, proud yet fearful of enemies, steeped in ancient superstitions but always seeking to shape the emerging world. Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, and Lenin all play their roles in creating and destroying the land and its people.
In Russka, Edward Rutherfurd has transformed the epic history of a great civilization into a human story of flesh and blood.
Edward Rutherfurd is one of the most renowned writers of historical fiction. He was born in Salisbury, England, christened in Salisbury Cathedral, and spent his early childhood in Salisbury Close. He was educated at Cambridge University and Stanford University in California. He has written several bestselling books, including Sarum, Russka, and London.
Wanda McCaddon (a.k.a. Nadia May or Donada Peters) has narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, has earned numerous Earphones Awards, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.
Reviews
“Rutherfurd literally personifies history.”
“Impressive…Rutherfurd has indeed embraced all of Russia.”
“Russka succeeds where [other books] of trendy Soviet-watching have failed…Rutherfurd can take his place among an elite cadre of chroniclers such as Harold Lamb, Maurice Hindus, and Henri Troyat.”
“An example of how a skillful historical novelist can illumine the present by dramatically re-creating the past.”
“Fast-moving…Rutherfurd believes in adding color and adventure to facts that are exhaustively researched, making history palatable if not delicious.”
“Sprawling…Rutherfurd’s close observation of Russia’s religious and ethnic diversity gives this epic a distinctive flavor.”
“These interconnected lives present a vast panoramic portrait of Russia and its history.”
“What a pleasant way to learn history…[Wanda McCaddon] brings her usual expertise to the reading of this immense opus…Her musical voice allows the listener to enjoy the story while absorbing the history and geography of Mother Russia.”
“Well-written, episodic…Crammed with exhaustive and obviously well-researched historical, geographical, and cultural detail…Rutherfurd’s opus extraordinaire may captivate readers of the genre as well as serious history buffs.”
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