I’m going to be starting a new feature here at Publius, where I take excerpts from books I’m reading or have read and post them along with some additional background or commentary.

The first book we’ll be going over will be Kremlin Rising, a detailed look at Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but in particular the years since the beginning of Putin’s rule. Written by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser of the Washington Post, it does not just focus on Putin himself, but an array of things troubling the country such as Chechnya, the AIDS epidemic, the poor state of the Russian healthcare system, the disintegrating military, the attack on the oligarchs and free media, and even pop culture. It’s perhaps the most comprehensive look at contemporary Russia to date.

The first post will be from Chapter 1: “Fifty-two Hours in Beslan.” I can feel your anticipation!