Revenge - by Michael Thumann (Paperback)

About the Book

Chronicles Russia's descent into an increasingly totalitarian dictatorship and the path leading to the escalation of Putin's imperialist war in 2022.

Book Synopsis

Michael Thumann has been reporting from Eastern Europe for the leading German intellectual weekly Die Zeit for over 25 years. His book chronicles Russia's descent into an increasingly totalitarian dictatorship and the path leading to the escalation of Putin's imperialist war in 2022. The dictator and his entourage want to take revenge for the democratic opening after 1991 and supposed humiliation by the West. Putin's rule is becoming more radical. It is the most threatening regime in the world.

Review Quotes

A book full of deep insights.--Hans Rauscher in Der Standard

A book worth reading.--Florian Klenk in Falter

A must read.--Paul Lendvai in Der Standard

An astute, horizon-broadening book.--Denis Scheck in Der Tagesspiegel

An important book at the right time. ... A therapeutic agent against all those infamous dilution tendencies in East and West that try to put Putin's brutality in warfare into perspective.--Wolfgang Paterno in Profil

An outstanding portrayal of Putin's rule ... Thumann's book does not end in February 2022, but lets his readers participate in developments in Russian society after the total invasion.--Franziska Davies in Süddeutsche Zeitung

Book of the hour ... with intimate insights into how one sees the world from Moscow.--Jan Feddersen in taz

Charts Vladimir Putin's career and describes Russia's stages on the way to dictatorship. ... A successful crash course in modern Russian history.--Helena Schäfer in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Clairvoyant like no other.--Thomas Speckmann in Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Contribution to a more realistic picture. ... Anyone who wants to better understand the history of this war should read Michael Thumann's book.--Jan Pfaff in taz

Convincingly argued and brilliantly written ... Despite the abundance of facts and complexity, it reads extremely well, is easy to understand, and very exciting.--Katja Essbach on radio NDR Kultur

Describes personal and historical slights behind Putin's drive to invade Ukraine.--WDR 5 Politikum

Elegantly written, excellently analyzed and absolutely enriching. ... It shows how Vladimir Putin has radicalized his country.--Michael Hesse in Frankfurter Rundschau

Explains what kind of regime this is in Russia today.--Paul Lendvai on ORF television

Hardly anyone knows Russia better than Michael Thumann ... a breathtakingly written book.--Marco Seiffert and Tom Boettcher on RBB Radio Eins

How important it is to understand Putin, namely in all his uninhibited cruelty, is made clear by DIE ZEIT's Russia correspondent, Michael Thumann.--Novina Göhlsdorf in Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung

I highly recommend the book ... a brilliant book--Markus Lanz on ZDF television

Like no other, he manages to link people's everyday lives with big politics.--Peter Claus on radio rbb Kultur

Not only does it come at the right time ... it also answers very important questions from an increasingly concerned public ... brilliantly written.--Thilo Koessler on radio Deutschlandfunk

One of the best experts on Russia.--Lukas Meyer-Blankenburg on SWR 2 radio

The book describes the self-proclaimed 'history executor' Vladimir Putin, rich in material and argumentatively balanced.--Sven Felix Kellerhoff in DIE WELT

The book gets to the heart of Putin's thoughts and actions. Thumann is the best expert on Russia.--Daniel Arnet in Sunday View

Thumann describes Russia's descent into an increasingly totalitarian dictatorship.--Handelsblatt

Very interesting story that combines the European perspective, but also the Russian perspective--great reading recommendation.--Jan Claas Behrends, Professor of History, European Viadrina University of Frankfurt-Oder

About the Author

MMichael Thumann is foreign policy correspondent for Die Zeit and lives in Moscow. He already came to know Russia during his student days, at Moscow State University. He has been reporting for Die Zeit from Eastern Europe and the Middle East since the 1990s. He is author of numerous articles, podcasts, and best-selling books about Russia as a multinational state and Putin's new nationalism.