August 01, 2014 Enhanced Interrogation, Soviet Style A third excerpt from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Inspector Matushkin visits a suburban police station and witnesses some "enhanced interrogation techniques" gone wrong. Russia File
July 30, 2014 Tsarevich Alexei and the Worst 10th Birthday Ever Late July and early August were busy times in 1914: not only was Russia's own heir apparent celebrating his 10th birthday, the world was devolving into the military chaos of World War I. History Russia File
July 18, 2014 Parley with a Gangster A second sample from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Here, inspector Pavel Matushkin redeems a favor to get some information from a gangster. History Literature Russia File
July 14, 2014 The First Russian Automobile July 14, 1896, is celebrated as the birthday of the Russian automobile – on this day, the first Russian-built motorcar with an internal combustion engine was introduced to the public at the Arts Exhibition in Nizhni Novgorod. History Science Russia File
July 04, 2014 Stranger on a Train Sample Alexei Bayer's myster novel Murder at the Dacha with this gripping incident on board a Moscow commuter train. Russia File
July 01, 2014 Isaac Babel and Russian Jews Ever wonder why so many Russian Jews ended up in the US? Perhaps it was the educational quotas, or the restrictions on travel and residence, or maybe the rampant anti-Semitism and violence – and all the other miseries chronicled by Jewish writer Isaac Babel. History Russia File
July 01, 2014 Fearful Majesty This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign. Nonfiction
July 01, 2014 Spies, Denouncers and Gods Three books make our cut this issue, and all are about spies and infiltrators.
