Who's Who in Russia since 1900

November 15, 1997
McCauley (Longman Biographical Directory of Decision-Makers in Russia & the Successor States, Longman, 1993) has compiled hundreds of profiles of individuals active during at least part of the 20th century in territory under Russian control. Not all are ethnically Russian; in fact, they represent most of the republics of the former Soviet Union. In addition to political figures (from all parts of the political spectrum), those profiled come from the worlds of science and engineering, religion, sports, the military, visual and performing arts, and literature. Some individuals were active long before the 1917 revolution. Criteria for inclusion are nowhere stated, but most of the obvious choices are included. Many entries include bibliographic sources complementing the more general works listed in the concluding bibliography, but the lack of any indexes at all makes following a theme around the alphabetical arrangement impossible. Compared with the author's earlier work or Who's Who in Russia and the CIS Republics (LJ 4/1/95), the narrative entries here are longer and also include those no longer living. Suitable for collections serving nonspecialists.--Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York

November 15, 1997
Upon first examination, "Who's Who in Russia since 1900," the biographical dictionary of Russian notables by British scholar Martin McCauley, seems to be "more of the same." The emphasis is on former Communist leaders, party officials, military personnel, and other peripheral intelligentsia, with a sprinkling of astronauts and some of the better-known Soviet dissidents. However, a closer look at the more than 540 entries reveals the inclusion of personalities in areas such as the arts and sciences, entertainment, religion, and sports, reflecting the interesting and changing climate in present-day Russia. One finds, for instance, Mikhail Sholokhov, author of "And Quiet Flows the Don, "next to composer Dmitry Shostakovich, and close by actor, writer, and film director Vasily Shukshin. Other aspects of Russian life are represented by chess player Gary Kasparov, gymnast Olga Korbut, and U.S. Bolshevik John Reed.The individual biographies, arranged alphabetically, describe the persons' lives primarily in terms of career and societal (especially political) impact, either on the subjects, or by the subjects on their environment. Details concerning nationality, education, achievements, and awards are sometimes mentioned. Where the subject has interacted with another entry in this "Who's Who," the second person's name is capitalized. This results in a useful cross-reference for the reader. What emerges from reading the entries is not only a vivid account of the events in the individuals' lives but also details of the changing political, social, and economic conditions, with their ramifications, in Russia and her satellites during the twentieth century. Some entries contain short bibliographic references.Other elements of this dictionary include a small collection of maps illustrating the historical territorial changes during the twentieth century; a chronology, which covers only 1917 to 1993 and focuses chiefly on Communist political events; an informative glossary explaining historical as well as contemporary terms and, where applicable, English and German equivalent meanings. There is also a short bibliography.In his introduction, the author describes the political events in the Soviet Union, beginning with the October Revolution in 1917, leading up to 1991. Again the focus is on the Communist regime, and while this historical review is interesting, it is not entirely up to date, nor does it properly represent the variety and depth of this biographical collection. An introduction featuring such additional subjects as the reemergence of the religious aspects of contemporary Russian life, the growth of the feminist movement, the growing crime rate, and the opening up of the economy to foreign investment, might have provided a more appropriate background to the present situation in Russia and could be considered for a future volume. An index organized by occupation, such as that included in "The Biographical Dictionary of the Former Soviet Union: Prominent People in all Fields from 1917 to the Present "(Bowker-Saur, 1992), would also be useful. This latter dictionary contains 5,000 entries, in most cases shorter than those in "Who's Who.Although this publication tends to focus primarily on the Communist influences in Russia during the twentieth century, it does contain a refreshing blend of alternative subjects and provides a spotlight on many familiar names and events about which little has previously been collected in this format. Scholars and laypersons alike will find it informative and convenient to use. Recommended for college and public libraries, especially those interested in a low-cost alternative to the far more expensive "Biographical Dictionary of...