Short-listed for the Pushkin House Russian Book Prize From the award-winning author of Naked in Baghdad comes Anne Garrels's revealing look into the lives of ordinary Russians, Putin Country. More than twenty years ago, the NPR correspondent Anne Garrels first visited Chelyabinsk, a gritty military-industrial center a thousand miles east of Moscow. The longtime home of the Soviet nuclear program, the Chelyabinsk region contained beautiful lakes, shuttered factories, mysterious closed cities, and some of the most polluted places on earth. Garrels’s goal was to chart the aftershocks of the U.S.S.R.’s collapse by traveling to Russia’s heartland.Returning again and again, Garrels found that the area’s new freedoms and opportunities were exciting but also traumatic. As the economic collapse of the early 1990s abated, the city of Chelyabinsk became richer and more cosmopolitan, even as official corruption and intolerance for minorities grew more entrenched. Sushi restaurants proliferated; so did shakedowns. In the neighboring countryside, villages crumbled into the ground. Far from the glitz of Moscow, the people of Chelyabinsk were working out their country’s destiny, person by person. In Putin Country, Garrels crafts an intimate portrait of Middle Russia. We meet upwardly mobile professionals, impassioned activists who champion the rights of orphans and disabled children, and ostentatious mafiosi. We discover surprising subcultures, such as a vibrant underground gay community and a circle of determined Protestant evangelicals. And we watch doctors and teachers trying to cope with inescapable payoffs and institutionalized negligence. As Vladimir Putin tightens his grip on power and war in Ukraine leads to Western sanctions and a lower standard of living, the local population mingles belligerent nationalism with a deep ambivalence about their country’s direction. Through it all, Garrels sympathetically charts an ongoing identity crisis. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union, what is Russia? What kind of pride and cohesion can it offer? Drawing on close friendships sustained over many years, Garrels explains why Putin commands the loyalty of so many Russians, even those who decry the abuses of power they regularly encounter.Correcting the misconceptions of Putin’s supporters and critics alike, Garrels’s portrait of Russia’s silent majority is both essential and engaging reading at a time when cold war tensions are resurgent.
Details e-book Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia
🗸 Author(s): Anne Garrels
🗸 Title: Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia
🗸 Rating : 4.4 from 5 stars (224 reviews)
🗸 ISBN-10: 1250118115
🗸 ISBN-13: 9781250118110
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
✓ Read as many eBooks you want!
✓ Secure Scanned. No Virus Detected
✓ Thousands of eBooks to choose from - Hottest new releases
✓ Click it and Read it! - no waiting to read eBooks, it's instant!
✓ Keep reading your favorite eBooks over and over!
✓ It works anywhere in the world!
✓ No late fees or fixed contracts - cancel anytime!
Readers' opinions about Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia by Anne Garrels
Alison Woolridge
What a breathtaking journey! The author's storytelling skills transported me to a world of magic and wonder. The character development was superb, and I felt deeply invested in their lives. The intricate plot kept me guessing until the end, and the themes explored left a profound impact on me. An exceptional and unforgettable read.
Trix Parsons
This book left me speechless and in awe of the author's storytelling ability. The characters felt so real, and their journeys were heartfelt and inspiring. The vivid descriptions transported me to the story's setting, and the plot twists were brilliantly executed. A truly remarkable book that will have a lasting place in my heart.
Phoebe Hines
This book was an absolute page-turner! The author's descriptive writing brought the world and characters to life in a way that felt incredibly immersive. The plot was filled with suspense and surprises, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. A fantastic read that left me eager to explore more of the author's work.
