This book is designed for undergraduates, A-level students and for general readers who want a detailed yet clear introduction to the Russian Revolutions and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. The author makes full use of the recent research since Gorbachev's glasnost, and surveys the different interpretations of Russian history. Each chapter begins with a brief summary of events and a list of the main points of debate among historians, and ends with a recommended reading list for students who wish to pursue a topic further.