"In the thirty-five years that have passed since the first edition of this book, Russia has changed its political system, but has not found its own identity. In 1991, with the fall of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union, broader prospects opened up for the future of Russia. But after a decade of often chaotic freedom, Russia's destiny remains unclear.

I still harbor the cautious optimism expressed then about Russia's future—and the underlying belief that culture is the key to improvement. However, in Russian culture there is not only light, but also darkness, and the predictions of some of the best Russian writers cast a dark shadow on the initially raised hopes regarding a new democratic path for Russia." (From the Preface)