Patterns of Russia shows how the public face of Russia developed and evolved through its distinct architecture, its astonishing art and its varied spaces. What emerges is a clear picture of how Russians fashioned their identity and the national monuments associated with it, in their setting - the Russian landscape - as well as elements of traditional material culture. Written in a concise and jargon-free style, tellingly illustrated, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history and culture of this complex country.

This book provides a remarkable overview of significant themes in Russian history and culture, in each case starting well before the eighteenth century, while frequently following them up into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Robin Milner-Gulland shows how the public face of Russia developed and evolved through its distinct architecture, astonishing art, and its varied public spaces. What emerges is a clear picture of how Russians fashioned their identity, and the national monuments associated with it, in their setting: the Russian natural landscape as well as distinctive elements of traditional material culture. Tellingly illustrated, concise and free of jargon, Patterns of Russia will appeal to all those with an interest in the history and culture of this complex-and much discussed-country.