Billington J.H. The icon and the axe: an interpretive history of Russian culture

In this book, James Billington, a famous American academic, related his view on the history of the development of the Russian culture from the very beginning of the Russian civilization till the end of the 20th century. It is not just a list of well-known historical facts but an interpretation of the mentality of Russian people, their aspirations and desires as well as influence of cultures and religions of neighboring countries that altogether finally created the portrait of a nation. The icon ad the axe – what is there behind these two artifacts that were traditionally hung together in the Russian peasant hut?

Billington J. H. The icon and the axe : an interpretive history of Russian culture / by James H. Billington. - New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1966. - xviii, 786, xxxiii p.: ill. (Location - English reading room, catalogue code - 947 BIL)