Best Selling Books by Vladimir

Russia''s rich history is full of secrets: there''s not another country in the world with so many skeletons in its closet. Vladimir Medinskiy''s new book offers the reader the opportunity to get better acquainted with some myths about Russia in an quick, easy and entertaining way. The book covers some of the most interesting, colourful and controversial debates in Russian history and the most popular myths about Russia: vodka and its role in some incredible adventures, Russia''s problems (apart from the roads and having too many fools), some lessons from the Bastille and the Civil War, the last testament of Peter the Great, amongst many others. In his book the author tackles some of the most pressing questions about Russia: whether you can trust Russians, the meaning of progress in Russian terms, who really won at the Battle of Borodino two hundred years ago, why Russians call Napoleon ''the consummate liar'', and also whether Russians are the true originators of petrol, mobile phones and the cinema. Myths About Russia is Medinskiy''s original and humorous take on the subject: in this book, he diligently unravels the myths surrounding this vast and complex nation, picking them apart to uncover the truth about Russia and her fascinating history.

An astonishingly frank self-portrait by Russia''s president

Looks at the rise of Vladimir Putin, his presidency, and the influence of the FSB on Russian life, economics, and government.

"The nature of the icon cannot be grasped by means of pure art criticism, nor by the adoption of a sentimental point of view. Its forms are based on the wisdom contained in the theological and liturgical writings of the Eastern Orthodox Church and are imtimately bound up with the experience of the contemplative life. The present work is the first of its kind to give a reliable introduction to the spiritual background of this art. The introduction into the meaning and language of the icons by Ouspensky imparts to us in an admirable way the spiritual conceptions of the Eastern Orthodox Church which are often so foreign to us, but without the knowledge of which we cannot possibly understand the world of the icon." -- Back cover.

A darkly comic novel of suspense, literary idolatry and one-upmanship, and political intrigue from one of the leading writers of the twentieth century, the acclaimed author of Lolita. "Half-poem, half-prose...a creation of perfect beauty, symmetry, strangeness, originality and moral truth. One of the great works of art of this century." —Mary McCarthy, New York Times bestselling author of The Group An ingeniously constructed parody of detective fiction and learned commentary, Pale Fire offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures, at the center of which is a 999-line poem written by the literary genius John Shade just before his death. Surrounding the poem is a foreword and commentary by the demented scholar Charles Kinbote, who interweaves adoring literary analysis with the fantastical tale of an assassin from the land of Zembla in pursuit of a deposed king. Brilliantly constructed and wildly inventive, Vladimir Nabokov''s witty novel achieves that rarest of things in literature—perfect tragicomic balance.

"This personification of wisdom with golden hair and a radiant aura echoes both the eternal feminine and the world soul. Rooted in Christian and Jewish mysticism, Eastern Orthodox iconography, Greek philosophy, and European romanticism, the Sophiology that suffuses Solovyov''s philosophical and artistic works is both intellectually sophisticated and profoundly inspiring. Judith Deutsch Kornblatt brings together key texts from Solovyov''s writings about Sophia: poetry, fiction, drama, and philosophy, all extensively annotated and some available in English for the first time (with assistance from the translators Boris Jakim and Laury Magnus)."--Amazon website.

Fra et russisk emigrantmiljø i 1920''ernes Berlin med en ung russisk forfatters oplevelser og litterære arbejder som midtpunkt

This book is about the early era of the Russian space challenge. It is based on the notes of Vladimir Suvorov, a distinguished chief documentary cinematographer, who eyewitnessed and described in his top secret diary all these events from 1959 to 1969. He and his team made 35 films on the Russian conquest of space. He worked closely with the key scientists including Chief Designer Sergey Korolev, the President of the Academy of Sciences Mstislav Keldish and other high ranking military officers who were in charge of the Soviet space program. Many cosmonauts, especially the first ones like Yuri Gagarin, German Titov, et al., became his friends. This book is the first close up and personal account of these remarkable events.

Nabokov''s first novel in English, one of his greatest and most overlooked

Published two weeks after his seventieth birthday, Ada, or Ardor is one of Nabokov''s greatest masterpieces, the glorious culmination of his career as a novelist. It tells a love story troubled by incest. But more: it is also at once a fairy tale, epic, philosophical treatise on the nature of time, parody of the history of the novel, and erotic catalogue. Ada, or Ardor is no less than the supreme work of an imagination at white heat. This is the first American edition to include the extensive and ingeniously sardonic appendix by the author, written under the anagrammatic pseudonym Vivian Darkbloom.

The new civilization, the first part of eighth book of the Series describes yet another visit by Vladimir Megre to Anastasia and their son, and offers new insights into practical co-operation with Nature, showing in ever greater detail how Anastasia''s lifestyle applies to our lives.

The wickedly inventive and richly derisive story of Hermann, a man who undertakes the perfect crime--his own murder. • “A beautiful mystery plot, not to be revealed.” – Newsweek “Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically.” – John Updike “One of Mr. Nabokov’s finest, most challenging and provocative novels.” – The New York Times Despair’s protagonist, Hermann, is another masterly portrait in the fascinating gallery of living characters Vladmir Nabokov has given to world literature. In his pseudo wordliness, his odd genius, Hermann is one with such other heteroclitic neurotic Nabokovian creations as Humbert Humbert and Charles Kimbote. Rapt in his own reality, incapable of escaping or explicating it, he is as solitary in his abyss as Luzhin or Charlotte Haze of Lolita. Despair is illuminated throughout by the virtuosity and cunning wit that are Vladimir Nabokov’s hallmarks.

No marriage of a major twentieth-century writer is quite as beguiling as that of Vladimir Nabokov’s to Véra Slonim. She shared his delight at the enchantment of life’s trifles and literature’s treasures, and he rated her as having the best and quickest sense of humor of any woman he had met. From their first encounter in 1923, Vladimir’s letters to Véra chronicle a half-century-long love story, one that is playful, romantic, and memorable. At the same time, the letters reveal much about their author. We see the infectious fascination with which Vladimir observed everything—animals, people, speech, landscapes and cityscapes—and glimpse his ceaseless work on his poems, plays, stories, novels, memoirs, screenplays, and translations. This delightful volume is enhanced by twenty-one photographs, as well as facsimiles of the letters and the puzzles and drawings Vladimir often sent to Véra. With 8 pages of photographs and 47 illustrations in text

"''Rasplata'' in no way contains ''reminiscences, '' but is simply the diary of an eye-witness, presented in the form of a narrative ... I [Commander Semenoff] kept a diary from January 30, 1904 to December 19, 1906 (even a little longer), and made daily entries, on specially important days even hourly. Everything I tell of here is based on the data of my diary"--Author''s preface.

From the writer who shocked and delighted the world with his novels Lolita, Pale Fire, and Ada, or Ardor, and so many others, comes a magnificent collection of stories. Written between the 1920s and 1950s, these sixty-five tales--eleven of which have been translated into English for the first time--display all the shades of Nabokov''s imagination. They range from sprightly fables to bittersweet tales of loss, from claustrophobic exercises in horror to a connoisseur''s samplings of the table of human folly. Read as a whole, The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov offers and intoxicating draft of the master''s genius, his devious wit, and his ability to turn language into an instrument of ecstasy.

The acclaimed author presents his unique insights into the works of great Russian authors including Tolstoy, Dostoevski, Gogol, Gorki, and Chekhov. In the 1940s, when Vladimir Nabokov first embarked on his academic career in the United States, he brought with him hundreds of original lectures on the authors he most admired. For two decades those lectures served as the basis for Nabokov''s teaching, first at Wellesley and then at Cornell, as he introduced undergraduates to the delights of great fiction. This volume collects Nabokov''s famous lectures on 19th century Russian literature, with analysis and commentary on Nikolay Gogol''s Dead Souls and "The Overcoat"; Ivan Turgenev''s Fathers and Sons; Maxim Gorki''s "On the Rafts"; Leo Tolstoy''s Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilych; two short stories and a play by Anton Chekhov; and several works by Fyodor Dostoevski, including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and The Possessed. This volume also includes Nabokov''s lectures on the art of translation, the nature of Russian censorship, and other topics. Featured throughout the volume are photographic reproductions of Nabokov''s original notes. "This volume . . . never once fails to instruct and stimulate. This is a great Russian talking of great Russians." —Anthony Burgess Introduction by Fredson Bowers

The classic novel from the author of Lolita, brilliantly portraying one man''s ruin through love and betrayal.

State and Revolution, penned by the seminal figure of 20th-century politics, Vladimir Lenin, is a profound and influential deep state book that delves into the intricate relationship between state and society, and the dynamics of power within a revolutionary framework. Written against the backdrop of the impending Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, this groundbreaking treatise serves as a manifesto for the radical transformation of societal structures. At the heart of this political masterpiece is the assertion that the state, as a tool of class oppression, must be dismantled and reconstructed to serve the interests of the proletariat. Drawing inspiration from the seminal works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, particularly The Communist Manifesto and The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, Lenin presents a comprehensive analysis of the capitalist state and its inherent contradictions. The treatise is organized into six insightful chapters, each meticulously deconstructing the prevailing political narratives of the time. It begins with a critique of the Second International and its leaders, such as Karl Kautsky, who, according to Lenin, strayed from the true path of Marxism by advocating for reform within the confines of the capitalist system. This critique underscores the urgency of the moment, as the specter of revolution loomed large. The central tenet of State and Revolution is the concept of the "dictatorship of the proletariat," a phase that is crucial in the transition from a class-based society to a classless utopia. This idea posits that the working class must seize the state apparatus to dismantle the capitalist order and suppress the bourgeoisie, thereby laying the foundation for a socialist society. It is a call to arms, emphasizing the necessity of radical change over incremental reform. Lenin''s vision is not confined to the theoretical; it extends into the practical realm of revolutionary tactics. He presents a roadmap for the proletariat, detailing the stages of revolution and the strategies required to navigate the complexities of state power. The text is imbued with a sense of urgency, as the fate of the Russian people hangs in the balance. The concept of the withering away of the state is another pivotal aspect of the book. As class distinctions dissolve, the need for a coercive state apparatus diminishes, leading to a society governed by the principles of collective ownership and collective decision-making. This visionary concept challenges the very essence of traditional political thought and presents a radical alternative to the status quo. While the legacy of State and Revolution is fraught with controversy due to its advocacy for violent revolution and the suppression of dissent, it is undeniable that the book has left an indelible mark on political discourse. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the ideological underpinnings of the Russian Revolution and the broader movement towards socialist transformation. For students of state and politics, activists, and political theorists alike, State and Revolution offers a provocative lens through which to view the struggle for social justice. Its uncompromising stance and revolutionary fervor continue to resonate, inspiring debate and reflection on the role of the state in a just society. This deep state book stands as a testament to the enduring power of ideas and the capacity for humanity to reshape the world.

In Russian Society and Politics 1921-1929, Vladimir Brovkin offers a comprehensive cultural, political, economic and social history of developments in Russia in the 1920''s.

The first of a series of textbooks for one-semester courses for students of human movement science, exercise and sport science, biomechanics, and related subjects. Assumes a knowledge of calculus and matrix algebra. Describes how to study human body position and displacement without regard to time, velocity, or acceleration, then adds those factors back in to examine differential kinematics. Includes review questions and a glossary without pronunciation. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

In the wake of the USSR''s collapse, more than 25 million Russians found themselves living outside Russian territory, their status ambiguous. Equally uncertain is the role they will play as a factor in Russian politics, local politics and relations among the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. This volume, prepared under the sponsorship of the Kennan Institute, offers a comprehensive and amply documented examination of these issues.

''Nabokov can move you to laughter in the way that masters can - to laughter that is near to tears'' Guardian Lev Ganin is a young officer sharing a boarding house in Berlin with a host of Russian émigrés. Alone in his room, he dreams of his first love, Mary. Awash with memories of youth and idyllic scenes of pre-Revolution Russia, Ganin becomes convinced that Mary is in fact the wife of a fellow-boarder, due to arrive at this very house soon. He longs for her arrival, when he can whisk her away and leave everything behind ...

Over 10 million copies sold in 20 languages

Over 10 million copies sold in 20 language

Ivan Chonkin is a simple, bumbling peasant who has been drafted into the Red Army. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, he is sent to an obscure village with one week''s ration of canned meat and orders to guard a downed plane. Apparently forgotten by his unit, Chonkin resumes his life as a peasant and passes the war peacefully tending the village postmistress''s garden. Just after the German invasion, the secret police discover this mysterious soldier lurking behind the front line. Their pursuit of Chonkin and his determined resistance lead to wild skirmishes and slapstick encounters. Vladimir Voinovich''s hilarious satire ridicules everything that was sacred in the Soviet Union, from agricultural reform to the Red Army to Stalin, in a refreshing combination of dissident conscience and universal humor.

This collection of essays by leading scholars and diplomats involved with the area examines the key political and economic issues facing Japan, Russia, and their neighbors since the end of the Cold War. The main goal is to analyze recent developments in Moscow-Tokyo bilateral relations and their growing interest in closer economic engagement, stability, and regional cooperation. The volume provides readers with an in-depth analysis of the very problems and opportunities that compelled the national leaders of Japan and Russia to drastically change the format and contents of the dialogue, to address the most critical issues not only of the moment but also for the future. The volume is a crucial resource for scholars, policy makers, and students involved with Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and Japanese and Russian foreign policy.

Reading versions of important lectures given in the 1950s demonstrate Nabokov''s critical talents and reveal his judgments on the works and achievement of Austen, Dickens, Flaubert, Joyce, Kafka, Proust, and Stevenson

This book is concerned with one of the most fundamental questions of mathematics: the relationship between algebraic formulas and geometric images. At one of the first international mathematical congresses (in Paris in 1900), Hilbert stated a special case of this question in the form of his 16th problem (from his list of 23 problems left over from the nineteenth century as a legacy for the twentieth century). In spite of the simplicity and importance of this problem (including its numerous applications), it remains unsolved to this day (although, as you will now see, many remarkable results have been discovered).

Smurov, is a lovelorn, excruciatingly self-conscious Russian émigré living in prewar Berlin, who commits suicide after being humiliated by a jealous husband, only to suffer even greater indignities in the afterlife.

Written in Berlin in 1934, Invitation to a Beheading contains all the surprise, excitement and magical intensity of a work created in two brief weeks of sustained inspiration. It takes us into the fantastic prison-world of Cincinnatus, a man condemned to death and spending his last days in prison not quite knowing when the end will come. Nabokov described the book as ‘a violin in a void. The worldling will deem it a trick. Old men will hurriedly turn from it to regional romances and the lives of public figures ... The evil-minded will perceive in little Emmie a sister of little Lolita ... But I know a few readers who will jump up, ruffling their hair’.