20th century Russia is a colourful and dynamic story from Lenin's Revolution, the murder of the Romanovs, Stalin's gulags through to perestroika and glasnost Provides the background to the events that we saw and read about on TV and in the newspapers - the Chechen War; Yeltsin turning back the tanks outside the Russian parliament, etc. Russia is still in confusing state of flux politically and economically - this book unravels the chaos Offers particularly strong and original sections on nationalism and ethnicity Focuses on psychological indoctrination and how a country can become a cult Motherland tells the dramatic story of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. From Lenin's virtual coup in November 1917 to Boris Yeltsin's ruthless takeover of power in 1991, the book culminates with a new view of the Yeltsin years. David Marples focuses on the evolution of Russia during the Soviet period, and the attempt to harness Russian nationalism to the avowed Soviet mission of promoting World Communism. Along the way heanalyses some of the more intensive historical debates and uncovers some of the myths perpetuated by state propaganda, especially those associated with the Great Patriotic War. David Marples is Professor of History at the University of Alberta. He is the author of eight previous books on Russia and the Soviet Union and has a particular interest in the issue of nationalities. He served as a regular consultant on Soviet issues to the governments of Canada and the USA and is uniquely placed to write the definitive account of modern Russia.