"Without question, this book is a significant contribution to its field. It is an important study that historians of the Russian Empire as well as scholars of modern European imperialism and colonialism should read." Francis Wcislo, Department of History, Vanderbilt University /// "A thoroughly researched, broadly conceived study that overarches several important new veins in Russian historiography. In doing so, Jersild shows the complexities attendant on a set of events - the "conquest" of the Caucasian region - that historians have traditionally understood in a one-dimensional fashion. He also brings to bear a great deal of interesting and original evidence. This is a well-crafted study with a fine eye for telling detail, and that casts new light on its topic." David McDonald, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison