In 1935, two Soviet satirists, Ilia Ilf and Evgeny Petrov, undertook a 10,000 mile American road trip. Lisa Kirschenbaum reconstructs their epic journey and their encounters with a vast cast of characters in order to reveal the role of ordinary individuals in shaping foreign relations between the two countries.
Voices, Memories, Contested Perspectives
The book presents a thorough exploration of Russian history, spanning from the empire through the Soviet era to the post-Soviet period, while placing modern Russia within a global context. It examines the establishment of the socialist regime under the Bolsheviks and the evolution of political ideology and foreign policy after the Soviet Union's fall. Enhanced with images, maps, primary sources, and discussion questions, it serves as an essential introductory resource for understanding twentieth-century Russian history.