W. Bruce Lincoln authored twelve books about Russia and its past, most notably The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russias; Red Victory: A History of the Russian Civil War; Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of a Thousand Years of Artistic Life in Russia; and Sunlight at Midnight: St. Petersburg and the Rise of Modern Russia.

"Combines a concern for historical truth with a genuine narrative skill.... A learned, informative, and engrossing biography."—Russian Review"The most balanced, reliable, and up-to-date treatment of its subject not only in English but in any language.... A thoroughly intelligent and learned investigation and presentation."—American Historical Review"Richly documented, balanced, clear, and well-argued.... A first-rate achievement."—Slavic Review

• Table of ContentsPreface Part One: Prologue 1. 1825: The Emperor Is Dead! Loåag Live the Emperor! 2. The Education of a Drill-Master Part Two: Genesis 3. The Genesis of the Nicholas System 4. The Heritage of the Holy Alliance Part Three: Absolutism Triumphant The Apogee of Autocracy Europe's Gendarme Emerges Part Four: The Attack Begins 7. Nicholas and Russia's Intellectuals 8. The Year 1848 Part Five: D\u00e9nouement 9. The Last Years of the Nicholas System 10. The Last Act: The Crimean War Notes Selected Bibliography Index