is a collection of translated primary sources that discuss Russia and how it was perceived by others. There are accounts from foreign travelers, legal documents and chronicles. The topics covered are political, religious and the customs of the society. Interestingly enough the selections occasionally interact with one another. For instance one source discusses how a Russian bride asked her foreign husband to beat her as a sign of love, eventually killing her. A later source points out that the story was wildly inaccurate. The translations themselves are surprisingly readable. I can't discuss the issue of accuracy.Each piece is introduced with a short discussion of the background of the events described as well as the transmission of the source. Citations are provided to either the original Russian or the translation. The book concludes with a glossary of Russian terms.
Recommended.
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