Russia at war : from the Mongol conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and beyond /

Russia at War, edited by Dowling (Virginia Military Institute), is a comprehensive, easy-to-use encyclopedia on Russian military history and culture. Its more than 650 signed entries by approximately 140 contributors, mostly historians from the US and abroad, cover Russia's history from the Mongol invasions to present times. The foreword examines the concept of Russia's "deep-seated" military culture and martial past. The vast majority of the encyclopedia's entries cover military events and personalities, about a quarter of which treat organizations, places, weapons, ideas, movements, and policies. This two-volume resource includes little-known battles and wars such as the 1939 Soviet-Japanese clash at Khalkin Gol, a vast array of well-known and lesser personalities, as well as the expected conflicts, such as the battles at Borodino and Stalingrad or the Crimean War. Numerous, detailed entries (ranging from 300 to 1,200 words) provide overviews of the essential cultural and political aspects, while longer entries, such as the one for the Imperial Russian Navy (some 3,600 words) or the entry on the June 1967 Six-Day War, particularly help place Russian military history in context. Many of the contributions contain maps and photographs. Entries are adequately cross-referenced and contain current though brief bibliographies. The work ends with a lengthy classified bibliography and a succinct chronology covering the years 862 (when Rurik becomes ruler of Novgorod) to mid 2014 (with Russia calling for independence in eastern Ukraine). The set belongs in academic libraries supporting Russian history programs and public libraries serving military enthusiasts. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduate students; general readers. --Charles H. Becker, Pima Community College