THIS BOOK WAS PROMPTED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN’S annexation of Crimea in 2014, the war in Eastern Ukraine and the geopolitical crisis that followed. As the world wondered what had happened – and why – I decided to attempt an explanation by going back to my experiences in Russia a quarter of a century ago.
I am grateful to Andrew Nurnberg, of Andrew Nurnberg Associates, for working through the initial idea with me and to his colleague, Charlotte Seymour, for taking it on from there. Alex Christofi of Oneworld has been an excellent editor and demonstrated exemplary patience during my multiple attempts to refine and update the text – before finally convincing me it really was time to let go. Jenny Page continued Alex’s great work.
I owe special thanks to Mark Franchetti, the veteran Moscow correspondent of The Sunday Times, who dipped into his impressive contacts book to set up a number of fascinating meetings in Moscow. I am grateful to all those in Russia and elsewhere who shared their thoughts or memories with me, either on or off the record. Natia Seskuria very efficiently transcribed and translated my interviews.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to commend Julia Dräger on her patience. She has lived with the book over the past year and could be forgiven for wondering in the final weeks whether it was ever going to be finished. It is now.