PREFACE TO RUSSIAN HISTORY

Should I venture to say that of all world history, Russian history is probably the least known, and even less understood, it may sound like a self-serving overstatement. Come on, all histories have their mysteries, and the fact that you are privy to one of them does not make it world-historically special!

This is not actually true. All histories have indeed their fair share of mysteries, but not all of them have an equal significance for our time, and beyond. Using Nietzsche’s famous title, the “Nutzen und Nachtheil der Historie für das Leben” acquires a very special meaning in the context of Russian history. No other history can do as much harm, when distorted, to our knowledge of the larger picture, and, conversely, knowing the truth of what happened, and how-- at certain critical points of Russian history-- would be greatly beneficial not only for our general historical knowledge, but for the wellbeing and the very future of our world.

General knowledge of Soviet history is particularly deficient, which yawning gap I will be attempting to fill very shortly. But there are certain aspects of the preceding Russian history which may be no less important, considering that they have found their fixed place in the very heart of the historically-conscious Soviet and post-Soviet history.

The story of Gostomysl The Wise, for one, is essential to the understanding of the nature and the rationale of Soviet totalitarianism, and it will be the first one we shall tackle, after this convenient reference.---

(The reference to follow next.)