Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful to read for an understanding of Ukraine
From pre-history to Independence in 1991, this book surveys the history of Ukraine and its people. It is unique in not only portraying the history of the Ukrainian people but also includes the other peoples who live or have lived in the land now known as Ukraine.

The organization of the book is chronological with 49 chapters divided into ten parts. Each part covers a significant period in Ukrainian history: Pre-Kievan Times; the Kievan Period; the Lithuanian-Polish Period; the Cossack State; the Hetmanate; Ukraine in the Russian Empire; Ukraine in the Austrian Empire; World War I; the Interwar Years; and, World War II & the Postwar Years.Forty-two black-and-white maps help illustrate the concepts described in the text. Also included are thirty-six textual inserts which provide lengthy quotes of important documents. Sometimes these feel redundant because the author has described so well the events highlighted by the inserted texts.

For readers to whom 700 pages of Ukrainian history is not enough and who want to learn more about specific events or periods described in this book, Magocsi provides a forty page bibliographic essay called: For Further Reading. One of the great stumbling blocks for English-speaking readers who want to learn Ukrainian history is the fact that so many Ukrainian sources have not been translated. A great feature of this bibliography is that the vast majority of the works listed are in English.

Ukrainian history is complex. This book, although daunting to read because of its size and depth of coverage, can help the student of Ukrainian history untangle the puzzles of Ukraine and its people. It is a great reference work that belongs in the library of anyone interested in the subject.

A History of Ukraine--Magocsi
A beautifully written history of outstanding excellence. I have found it most helpful. Professor Magocsi is to be commended on a another success.

Excellent Reference on Ukrainian History
Mr. Magocsi's "History of Ukraine" often takes a second billing to Mr. Subtelny's "Ukraine: A History" - and I think, unfairly. Both have a lot to offer, and frankly, no passionate student of Ukrainain history should choose one over the other. He or she should get both. A wealth of information, and first rate scholarship are impressive. Mr. Magocsi has done a first rate job. Mychajlo Hrushevsky would approve of both, and we should too. ... Read more

Book Description
Combines historical research with travel and interviews in Ukraine to expose layer after layer of myth and propaganda that wrap this divided land

This vivid book tells the story of Ukraine by taking the reader there. Talking to peasants and politicians, rabbis and racketeers, dissidents and paramilitaries, survivors of Stalin's famine and of Nazi labor camps, Anna Reid charts Ukraine's tragic past and explores its struggle to build a national future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

russian mindset - refuses to see lush ukrainian culture
There are certainly connections between russian and ukrainian culture. But those of us who have gone to ukrainian schools know well how authorites can suppress the total picture of a culture. Get a taste of the beauty of Ukraine from this book, but be open to more and accurate info as well. Buy more books on Ukraine!

Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine
Very complete.Great timeline in front of text so one can keep track of which Polish or Russian invasion the writer is explaining.HOWEVER, it needs extra chapters to explain the last 10 years of major change in Ukraine.

misconcept
First of all, Ukranians and Russians is one nation. And Ukraina is a modern name for the present territory of this country, since the establishement of the USSR followed by the October revolution in 1917.
For centures before that and after reunification with Russia some 350 years ago that part of Russia was called Little Russia. History of Ukraine is a sad history of Russia with Kiev to be the first capital of old Russia going back to 5th century and was always called as mother of all other Russian cities.Still today Kievo-Pechorskaya Lavra,( set of orthodox churches and a monastrye) the heart of Kiev belongs to Russian Orthodox Church. Kiev Russia(old name of Russia) being a rich and strategically well located country was an attraction for tatars and polish. This is where the first split of Russia as a country comes from. Part of Ukraine being under Poland for quite a time turned into a source for separatism for some of people of this region, especially in the western part of Ukraine.
There is little spoken about it today, but eastern parts of modern Ukraine and down very south (Crimea) never were under polish ruling, and in fact are more Russians than Ukranians, if to use modern terminology. Existing borders of Ukraine been made artificcially due to complex history of Russia, the most "outstanding" act was a gift of Khrushev(leader of USSR) from Russian Federation to Ukraine in the mid of last century. On celebration of 300 years of reunification of Ukraine with Russia, Crimea`s vast land was taken from Russian Federation borders under republic Ukraine borders, as a gift prooving we are together for ever.
And the split up in 1991 had more economical reasons than national, due to weak leadership of Gorbachev, which brougth the USSR on the edge ofeconomical, political and moral collapse. Everybody was running away from that muddle.
Bur history has no way backward, what is done-is done. But in all time it has to be respected. What happens now: either because of little knowledge or to proove the split up, we see that some are trying to write " a new history of Ukraine".
I agreewith F. Alcala comment, that Russia and Ukraine will be together in the future with one one remark: we were not for 350 years together, this is the date of reunification of Russia and what is called Ukraina today, but long before that we started as one country in Kiev Russia, later invaded by the neighbours around, what resulted the split up before that reunification took place 350 years ago.
Nice remarks from F.Alcala about other countries.
I wonder if Mrs Anna Reid next book will be about USA? Is she going to defend the idea of setting up Indians Country on the territory of USA,
demandig a contribution from UK for occupying Indians lands for centuries and genocide to indian people?

Great History
While it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, this book gave a wonderful condensed history of the Ukraine.This small country has gone through so many changes, and been under so many other countries leadership, finally winning their independance.It makes you appreciate our own history.

A Truely Novel History
Never would I have thought that a history could be so enthralling. This work reads like a fine novel. The author has extensively researched her subject. The book was read in preparation for a visit to the Ukraine. Having read Borderland provided a basis for understanding the contempory politics and attitudes of the country whose National anthem begins with "Hope in the Ukraine is not yet dead."!!! A must read for anyone interested in the Ukraine or the post USSR conditions of previous soviet border states. ... Read more

Book Description
Ukraine is Europe's second-largest state. Roughly the size of Germany and Great Britain or the states of Arizona and New Mexico combined, it shares borders with seven countries and in 2001 had a population of more than 48 million. This lavishly illustrated volume provides a concise and easy-to-read historical survey of the country from earliest times to the present. Each of the book's forty-six chapters is framed by a historical map, which graphically depicts the key elements of the chronological period or theme addressed within. In addition, over 300 historic photographs, line drawings, portraits, and reproductions of books and works of art bring the rich past of Ukraine to life.

Rather than limiting his study to an examination of the country's numerically largest population - ethnic Ukrainians - acclaimed scholar Paul Robert Magocsi emphasizes the multicultural nature of Ukraine throughout its history. While ethnic Ukrainians figure prominently, Magocsi also deals with all the other peoples who live or who have lived within the borders of present-day Ukraine: Russians, Poles, Jews, Crimean Tatars, Germans (including Mennonites), and Greeks, among others. This book is an indispensable resource for European area and Slavic studies specialists and is sure to appeal to people interested in having easy access to information about political, economic, and cultural developments in Ukraine. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1988 Orest Subtelny's Ukraine was published to international acclaim, as the definitive history of what was at the time a state within the USSR.In the years since we have seen the dismantling of the Soviet bloc and the restoration of Ukraine's independence - a time of celebration for Ukrainians throughout the world, and of tumultuous change for those in the homeland.

With this new edition of Ukraine: A History, Subtelny revises the story up to the spring of 2000. A new chapter focuses on the achievements and failures of the new state and society in international affairs, internal politics, and economic and social development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

EXCELLENT HISTORY BOOK!
Its full of knowledge and many interesting rarely seen historical photos.I have learned much more information that I ever knew before about Ukraine.Excellent book that I would recommend to everyone.

Good Facts, Bad Premise
This book covers the history of "Ukraine" from time immemorial until the late 20th century, laying out all the important dates andleaders. It is without doubt the most extensive and lucid English-language account of the development of regions and peoples which constitute today's Ukraine.

Its crucial fault, however, is that it fails to overturn or even question the nationalist mythologizing of Ukrainian history. It assumes the permanent historical unity of the Ukrainian nation when in fact no such unity existed until at least the early 1900s. It marginalizes the role of Poles, Russians, and even Germans in laying rival claims to the territory and peoples now called Ukraine. It leads us to believe that Ukraine was destined to exist in its current form, when in fact the creation of Ukraine was highly contested and its current shape anything but pre-determined. This book presents the genealogy of regional figures and struggles which have been appropriated into Ukrainian nationalist mythology, but gives little sense how or when Ukraine actually came to exist, nor how its history fits into larger European narratives.

For anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating land
First published in 1988, Orest Subtelny's Ukraine: A History has again been newly updated in a third edition. This 736 page volume spans from the earliest times to the modern day, covering everything from ancient Greek colonization to the recent Ukraine diaspora. Orest Subtelny (Professor of History and Political Science at York University) goes into extreme depth and detail with a text that is significantly enhanced with maps, tables, and the occasional black-and-white photograph. Highly recommended for its lucidity, meticulous attention to detail, and scholarly precision, Ukraine: A History is a "must" for anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating land and its people.

Best Source for Ukrainian History
Mr. Subtelny's "Ukraine: A History" rates a notch above Mr. Magosci's. Well-written and very readable. This is the volume one reaches for when facts on the Ukrainian history are required.

Best reference on Ukrainian history - bar none!
Orest Subtelny's book on Ukrainian history is intelligently written and very readable, among the growing number of books on Ukraine. It's at the top of the list. A must for any Ukraine enthusiast! ... Read more

Book Description
In 2004 and 2005, striking images from the Ukraine made their way around the world, among them boisterous, orange-clad crowds protesting electoral fraud and the hideously scarred face of a poisoned opposition candidate. Europe's second-largest country but still an immature state only recently independent, Ukraine has become a test case of post-communist democracy, as millions of people in other countries celebrated the protesters' eventual victory.Any attempt to truly understand current events in this vibrant and unsettled land, however, must begin with the Ukraines dramatic history.Ukraine's strategic location between Russia and the West, the country's pronounced cultural regionalism, and the ugly face of post-communist politics are all anchored in Ukraine's complex past.The first Western survey of Ukrainian history to include coverage of the Orange Revolution and its aftermath, this book narrates the deliberate construction of a modern Ukrainian nation, incorporating new Ukrainian scholarship and archival revelations of the post-communist period. Here then is a history of the land where the strategic interests of Russia and the West have long clashed, with reverberations that resonate to this day. ... Read more

Book Description
Within living memory, occupation of the Ukraine by Poland, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia has demanded a huge price in human lives. Between 1930 and 1945 famine, war, repression, mass execution and nationalist struggle caused the death of a staggering 15 million Ukrainians. Through unique personal testimonies, archive and contemporary photographs, this book reflects on the history of the Ukrainian people from the 1920s to the close of the 20th century. ... Read more

Book Description
War in a European Borderland examines the many regime changes that took place in occupied Ukraine during World War I. The decimation of people living between Austria-Hungary and the Russian empire - specifically Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Belorussians, and the population of the Baltic states - extended to the destruction of their homeland as well, where most of the fighting occurred. Russian, German, and Austrian occupiers all worked to shape regimes in these borderland territories and the wartime policies and discriminatory legislation enacted upon this region exacerbated ethnic tensions.

Mark von Hagen looks at the main occupations of Galicia and Bukovyna between 1914 and 1918, particularly the Austrian rule of 1914; the Russian occupation between 1914 and 1915; the German- Austrian reoccupation of Galicia, Bukovyna, and the Russian provinces of Volynia and Kholm in 1915 and 1916; the second Russian occupation in 1916 and 1918; and, finally, the second German-Austrian occupation of most of Russian Ukraine in 1918. He traces the similarities among the various occupying forces as well as the important differences that shaped the individual regimes.

War in a European Borderland provides vital historical background to current events in Ukraine, and offers lessons on the problems faced by occupying powers. Further, the problems of the past remain sadly relevant for occupied civilian populations today. ... Read more

Book Description
Ukraine Between East and West presents twelve essays by the distinguished Byzantinist Ihor Sevcenko that explore the development of Ukrainian cultural identity under the disparate influences of the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe (mediated through Poland). For Kyivan Rus', Byzantium was the source of the Christian religion, as well as of a highly developed literary and artistic culture that stimulated Kyiv's own achievements in these fields. The author shows how the prestige of Byzantine civilization was reinforced by the activities of Greek metropolitans of Kyiv, Byzantine emperors, religious missionaries and teachers of Greek, dominating the outlook of the Slavic elite during the Middle Ages. This civilization influenced Kyivan culture not only during Byzantium's period of greatness, but even after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks.

Moving on to the early modern period, Ihor Sevcenko analyzes the impact of the Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-Reformation in Ukraine. The scholarship and new instructional methods of the Polish Jesuits and the assimilative pressure of the Polish church and state compelled the Ukrainian elite not only to rise in defense of its ancestral faith but also to reshape its traditional culture with the aid of Western innovations. The intellectual ferment of the era is captured in essays on the defense of the Orthodox faith and the religious polemical literature. The essay on Metropolitan Peter Mohyla examines the complex cultural world of this important churchman. Concluding the work is a consideration of the way in which Byzantine and Western influences combined with the Kyivan legacy to produce a distinctive Ukrainian identity. Sevcenko's essays, in which a wealth of detail is given coherence by an acute, richly informed analytical perspective, will reward not only students of Byzantine and East European history but all readers interested in problems of cultural formation and development.

Five essays are published here for the first time, while the other seven have been extensively revised and augmented. Bibliographic notes are appended to each essay, and the volume is enhanced with 21 pages of fifteen chronological tables and four excellent fold-out maps.

This is the inaugural volume of the monograph series published by the Peter Jacyk Centre for Ukrainian Historical Research at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. The series aims to foster the publication of new research, textbooks, source materials, and translations of classical historical works. ... Read more

Book Description
This book surveys the Ukrainian-EU relationship in light of the legacies of Russian rule. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Oustanding Volume on Ukrainian History!
If you're lucky enough to find this terrific 629 p. volume, published by Yale University Press way back in 1941, and since reprinted, even in translation, you will be rewarded with a first rate account of Ukrainian history by the legendary Ukrainian scholar and patriot, Michael Hrushevsky, who died in 1934 as a result of his imprisonment by the Soviet authorities. It's authoritative, scholarly and very readable. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Baptist History and Heritage, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2007. The length of the article is 4945 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Baptist beginnings in Russia and Ukraine.
Author: Heather J. Coleman
Publication: Baptist History and Heritage (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 42Issue: 1Page: 24(13)

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on December 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1988 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: History of Ukraine Rus', Volume Seven: The Cossack Age to 1625.(Review) (book review)
Author: John-Paul Himka
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2000
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 35Issue: 3Page: 535

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description
The book addresses achievements, challenges and problems of Ukraine's foreign and security policy since 1990/91. Emphasis is put on the often problematic, but presently stable, bilateral relations with Russia as well as Ukraine's policies aimed at enhancing its position in the Central Eastern European region and integration into Western and Euro-Atlantic structures. The book contains contributions by well-known Ukrainian, Russian and Western foreign and security policy analysts such as Olga Alexandrova, Hermann Clement, Anatolii Grytsenko, Taras Kuzio, Arkadiy Moshes, Hryhorii Nemyria, Oleksandr Pavliuk, Oleksandr Potekhin, James Sherr, and others, as well as concluding remarks by the editors. A foreword is dedicated by H.E. Borys Tarasyuk, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. ... Read more