Presented with an unexpected assignment, Alex Rider's greatest nemesis, Yassen Gregoravich, recalls his life and the path that led him to become an assassin while his one-time friend, Alex's uncle, became a spy.

WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE
WINNER OF THE CORNELIUS RYAN AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE LIONEL GELBER PRIZE
FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

“Fast-paced and excellently written…much needed, dispassionate and eminently readable.” —New York Times

“Filled with sparkling prose and deep analysis.” –The Wall Street Journal

The...

"As the world's largest nation, the Russian Federation has become a key player in world affairs since the turn of the 21st century. Events within Russia and surrounding former Soviet republics have raised questions about whether Russia's government has successfully transitioned away from the totalitarianism of the Soviet Union to a federal democracy. At the same time, international relations between Russia and the West contain echoes of Cold War distrust,...

"The history of modern Russia is one of failed expectations, starving peasants, brutal terror against political rivals, and nuclear posturing. The collapse of communism left the door open for Russia to enter the twenty-first century as a peaceful nation. Putin's quest to return Russia to its former position in the world may ultimately hinge on the outcome of the Ukraine war"--

A romantic triangle on a retired British intelligence officer, his girl and the spy who stole her. It is told against the backdrop of the rebellion in Chechnya and the international intrigues surrounding it. A tale of the moral wastes of post-Cold War Europe in both East and West. By the author of The Night Manager.

"A highly original narrative history by The Economist Moscow bureau chief that does for modern Russia what Evan Osnos did for China in Age of Ambition, "--Amazon.com. The end of communism and breakup of the Soviet Union was a time of euphoria around the world, but Russia today is violently expansionary and dangerously nationalistic. So how did we go from the promise of those days to the autocratic police state of Putin new Russia? The Invention of...

"Darryl Cunningham (Billionaires) returns with the riveting life story of Vladimir Putin, Russia's infamous autocrat. He traces Putin's development from school yard thug in Soviet-era Leningrad, to KGB officer, to corrupt commodities dealer, all the way to his presidency and beyond. In this educational and frank biography, Putin's journey is characterized by shifting loyalties, brutal treatment of detractors, and lawless financial dealings."--

The history of Russia is a story of extremes: From its climate to its convulsive changes of government, Russia and its people have learned to endure the intolerable. Yet despite such hardships, the country remains one of the most influential in the world. Some of the most esteemed works of literature and music have emerged from its culture, and Russia stands poised to be a major player in global politics as the 21st century progresses.

2003-1559.