Suggested travel reading for Russia
RussiaBy Jonathan Dimbleby BBC Books, £7.99
Jonathan Dimbleby is giving a gilt-edged opportunity to travel the breadth of Russia to make a television series for the BBC and this hefty slab of a book is its accompaniment. In it, Dimbleby provides a fine history of the Russian state, with plenty of well-researched detail. If it owes a great debt to several predecessors, Dimbleby is never shy of revealing his literary sources, giving this a satisfying and somewhat scholarly edge.
Dimbleby's previous trips to the "motherland" included an interview with Mikhail Gorbachev, and these moments of insight are revealing and fascinating. However, the melancholy that many writers have often attributed to Russia occasionally befalls the author. A note of sanctimony creeps into this book, and his personal reflections can feel a little unnecessary and trite. Judicious editing could have made this a more dynamic and enthralling book, so while there are moments of brilliance, it won't be dislodging the likes of Imperiumfrom the Russophile's bookshelf in this edition.
RussianLonely Planet Phrasebooks, £4.99
Lonely Planet has released a number of phrasebooks, to help you get to grips with a few bare essentials. This is its Russian effort, and it's not as terrifying as the average thick- tongued tourist might expect. Grammar is lightly skirted over, vocabulary is limited to the basics, and a decent pronunciation guide should have you ordering tickets, meals and shots of vodka in no time. With 3,500 words in a two-way dictionary, in a package smaller than most wallets, it's a very worthwhile investment.
lmackin@irishtimes.com