When Russia Learned to Read

Reviews / Votes

"Jeffrey Brooks's erudite and fascinating study traces the history of the popular books that entertained and instructed, reflected, and helped shape the values of millions of newly literate Russians, particularly during the last three decades of the Romanov empire. It is social and cultural history at its best."--Maurice Friedberg, Political Science Quarterly "This remarkable book breaks new ground for scholar and student alike... Brooks has given us rich fare for the person seeking to understand the complexities of mass culture in a country many have thought to lack any such thing."--Donald W. Treadgold, The Journal of Interdisciplinary History