Russia occupies a grand place on the world's stage. Its sprawling landscape encompasses flat grassy steppes and soaring mountains as well as a wide array of ethnic groups and religious traditions. Hockey bandy and the Bolshoi Ballet the sweeping novels of Tolstoy the hearty richess of borscht the springtime holiday of Maslenitsa - all these and more are celebrated in this volume on Russia's customs and culture.
Covering history and religion family and friends food and drink school and work arts and entertainment and cities towns and the countryside Tradition Culture and Daily Life Major Nations in a Global World explores what makes key countries unique magnets for the world's fascination.