Russia front the l'arangiane to the Bolsheviks. By Raymond Beazley,
Nevin Forbes, and G. A. Birkett. (Clarendon Press. 8s. Oci. net.)—This concise, readable, and scholarly history of Russia up to the Revolution is the very book for which many people have been waiting. The present situation in Russia can only be understood in the light of Russian history, such as this admirable work provides. The romantic story of early Russia before and after the Tartars came is well told by Professor Beazley, and Professor
Forbes describes the building of the Russian State between 1500 and 1800. But Mr. Birkett's account of the last century is even more interesting and important, because it indicates the real causes of the Tsardom's collapse, of which excessive centralization, corruption, and neglect of education were perhaps the chief. Mr. Birkett draws a clear distinction between the extreme Social Democrats or Bolsheviks, who are internationalists, and the Social Revolutionaries, who believe in terrorism but are Russian patriots, and therefore, despite their crimes, may play a part in the regenera- tion of their country.
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