The broader your subject the harder it is to write a short history, and no nation had a busier twentieth century than Russia, an era packed with revolutions, massive warfare and semi-genocidal internal disruptions. Brian Moynhan was always going to have to sacrifice detail for basic coverage and his 260 pages are a bold, if slightly eccentric, attempt on the subject. Beginning with an examination of Tsarist Russia - he finds only political flaws in the regime, albeit major ones - Moynahan moves swiftly through the revolutions of 1917 and into the rule of Stalin, the one individual who dominates the work, as he did Russia.

The book continues at pace, although World War II merits a more detailed examination and Moynahan finds time to tackle the inevitable comparison of Lenin and Stalin with Hitler, compellingly explaining how the three were equally wasteful of human life: if the Soviet leaders had focused on a single race, instead of just everyone, they would be openly condemned as genocidal too. The rule of Krushchev begins with only seventy pages to go, at which point Moynahan speeds up, brushing Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko aside before a hasty finale with Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Regrettably, this book was first published in 1994 and the Russian Century in question is one of 1894 - 1994, not the twentieth century as modern readers might assume. Yeltin's surprise resignation late in 1999 is absent, as is Vladimir Putin's election in 2000.

Devoid of flowery expression and very focused, Moynahan's sharp style may be perfect for short histories, but certain key events, especially the end of World War 1, merit almost no mention and certainly no discussion. With such limited space the decision to omit debates on such broadly known events is understandable, but with no notes or bibliography some readers may be misled or disappointed, while others will feel the substance is missing. Of course, if Moynahan is intending to narrate the history of Russia and the Russians, not Russia in the international community or how Russia is seen in the world, such omissions would be doubly understandable, but there's no evidence of such an approach. Instead, The Russian Century is basically a political history of the nation, focused on 'the system' rather than traditionally recognised landmarks of the Imperial and Soviet era.

Moyhanan draws few threads throughout the book, although he foreshadows the appearance of later leaders by mentioning them early on: for instance, Gorbachev is noted as he attends his first conference. The selection of material is eclectic: living standards of the ruling classes are mentioned, but the Gulags are never really explained. Perhaps more unusually, the text is relatively devoid of the rhetoric and grandstanding discussion found in many books: Moyhanan lets the figures and events speak for themselves, without assessing the worth of Communism, what Stalinsim really was or countless other issues. Conversely, Moyhanan's powerful introduction and Yevgeny Yevtushenko's plaintiff, heartfelt foreword are full of analysis. Yevtushenko's historical comparisons may be flawed, but his warnings that Russia's past will cause the future to be a glorious democractic union or a Balkanised 'cauldron of blood' are valid and stirring.

Although this is a well-written and immensely educational work, it's difficult to recommend. The author's selection of material could be better, especially as he uses the same example in several different chapters. The theft of state petrol or the oddity of orange profiteering are interesting once, but their needless repetition reflects badly on Moynahan, suggesting a lack of organisation or material. In contrast, his use of sources is masterly, blending excerpts from a wide range of material seamlessly into the text. Perhaps if the vitality and incisiveness of his introduction had been maintained, or if his swift history had been supported by footnoting and recommendations of further reading, the work wouldn't feel so empty. Readers will finish knowing Russian forces fought in Afghanistan, but they won't know of the 1979 - 1988/9 war between the two countries. The Russian Century, for all it's quality and skill, remains only a partwork.

Please note: this is a review of The Russian Century: A History of the Last Hundred Years and not Brian Moynahan's similarly titled The Russian Century: A Photojournalistic History of Russia in the 20th Century.