Vladimir Medinsky - Myths about Russia in 3 volumes. Leather-bound gift books

Challenging myths about drunkenness, slavery, theft, and Russian endurance

Vladimir Medinsky - Myths about Russia in 3 volumes. Leather-bound gift books.

The three—volume book "Myths about Russia" by Vladimir Medinsky is a series of historical and journalistic books in which the author tries to refute popular negative stereotypes about the Russian people and the Russian state. The main goal of the author is to show that many familiar ideas about Russia are the invention of foreign travelers or local opposition of the past centuries.

Content:
Volume 1: "On Russian Drunkenness, Laziness and Cruelty"
What: The author proves that Russians historically drank no more than Europeans, and vodka appeared in Russia later than is commonly thought.
The bottom line: Medinsky argues with the opinion about widespread laziness, recalling the harsh climate and hard peasant labor. He compares the brutality of Ivan the Terrible or other rulers to Medieval Europe, where executions and religious wars claimed many more lives.

Volume 2: "About Russian slavery, filth and the "Prison of Nations"" What: An analysis of the myth that there has never been freedom in Russia, and people are used to living under the yoke of tyrants. The bottom line: The author talks about the traditions of the Novgorod Veche, Zemsky cathedrals and Cossack democracy. He also refutes the stereotype of "unwashed Russia", comparing Russian baths with hygiene in medieval Europe, and proves that the national outskirts of the Russian Empire were not oppressed.

Volume 3: "On Russian Theft, a special way and long-suffering"
What: An analysis of the famous phrase "Stealing, sir ..." and ideas about the mysterious Russian soul.
The bottom line: Medinsky explains that corruption and bribery were and remain a global problem, not a purely Russian trait. He discusses whether people are really ready to tolerate any decisions of the authorities and why the myth of their own technical and cultural backwardness has taken root in society.