Soviet Politics 1917-1991
`A clear exposition of 74 years of Soviet power, as good a choice as any for the reader wishing to know the background to contemporary events ... it concentrates on the main structural elements of the edifice, and often illuminates them.' John Lloyd, London Review of Books`Very lively and immediately accessible, and a first-class introduction to the period and the major issues and dilemmas associated with it.' Mark Galeotti, University of Keele`Excellent and concise survey.' Evan Mawdsley, University of Glasgow`Very clear, comprehensive and readable.  An ideal introduction to the Soviet Union.' Miss B.J. Williams, University of Sussex`This is an extremely readable book.  Excellent for the beginner and an enjoyable and interesting read for those who already have some knowledge.  I would highly recommend it.' Dr Rachel Walker, Essex University'Her appraisals of Nikita S. Khrushchev the impulsive reformer, and of Leonid I. Brezhnev the gray bureaucrat, are particularly lucid.' The New Leader'McAuley's book is useful and interesting in that it tackles the particularly fascinating problem of the Bolsheviks' search for political legitimacy after their seizure of power in October 1917.' Ian D. Thatcher, Irish Slavonic Studies'