Yeltsin: A Life Book

It took me longer than usual to read this one, and that was partly a combination of style and material. In modern Russian history, Boris Yeltsin is an important figure and one I admit I have very limited knowledge of. Hence my reading of Professor Colton's book.

The book, is at times, a difficult read structurally and in tone, and I believe is aimed at a more academic level than I was wanting. No great problem really, but it did force me to take it slower than usual and both helped (as it was digested in smaller chunks) and hindered (as I tended to lose the train of thought) my understanding.

And then there's the subject matter. Details seem to be sparse, and perhaps that's a function of Yeltsin himself and the fact that there are at least three (I think) autobiographies by Yeltsin out there that Prof Colton did not want to re-hash. I came away with (what I feel) is a limited understanding of Boris Yeltsin, rounded and covering the major themes no doubt, but lacking nuance. Whether it's my ability, the need to approach Prof Colton's book differently, or that it is all that can be gleaned I'm unsure.

It's worth the read, worth the effort, and perhaps those interested in Russian history will get more from it, or those who understand the (apparent) arguments about Boris Yeltsin's life and legacy.