Russka: The Novel of Russia Audiobook, by Edward Rutherfurd Play Audiobook Sample

Russka: The Novel of Russia Audiobook

Russka: The Novel of Russia Audiobook, by Edward Rutherfurd Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Wanda McCaddon Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 26.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 20.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: August 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781483076942

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

43

Longest Chapter Length:

69:43 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

04:30 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

55:40 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

12

Other Audiobooks Written by Edward Rutherfurd: > View All...

Publisher Description

Russka is the story of four families who are divided by ethnicity but united in shaping the destiny of Russia. From a single riverside village situated at one of the country’s geographic crossroads, Russia’s Slav peasant origins are influenced by the Greco-Iranian, Khazar, Jewish, and Mongol invasions. Unified by this one place, the many cultures blend to form a rich and varied tapestry.

Rutherfurd’s grand saga is as multifaceted as Russia itself: harsh yet exotic, proud yet fearful of enemies, steeped in ancient superstitions but always seeking to shape the emerging world. Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, and Lenin all play their roles in creating and destroying the land and its people.

In Russka, Edward Rutherfurd has transformed the epic history of a great civilization into a human story of flesh and blood.

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"I thought this novel was very good - as are Rutherfurd's other novels. Like his other books, once you finish reading the novel, you really appreciate the culture, people, history of the city, country, etc. Overall, I highly recommend this book even though it took me some time to read it."

— Simon (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Rutherfurd literally personifies history.”

    — New York Daily News
  • “Impressive…Rutherfurd has indeed embraced all of Russia.”

    — Washington Post Book World
  • “Russka succeeds where [other books] of trendy Soviet-watching have failed…Rutherfurd can take his place among an elite cadre of chroniclers such as Harold Lamb, Maurice Hindus, and Henri Troyat.”

    — San Francisco Chronicle
  • “An example of how a skillful historical novelist can illumine the present by dramatically re-creating the past.”

    — Houston Chronicle
  • “Fast-moving…Rutherfurd believes in adding color and adventure to facts that are exhaustively researched, making history palatable if not delicious.”

    — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • “Sprawling…Rutherfurd’s close observation of Russia’s religious and ethnic diversity gives this epic a distinctive flavor.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “These interconnected lives present a vast panoramic portrait of Russia and its history.”

    — Library Journal
  • “What a pleasant way to learn history…[Wanda McCaddon] brings her usual expertise to the reading of this immense opus…Her musical voice allows the listener to enjoy the story while absorbing the history and geography of Mother Russia.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Well-written, episodic…Crammed with exhaustive and obviously well-researched historical, geographical, and cultural detail…Rutherfurd’s opus extraordinaire may captivate readers of the genre as well as serious history buffs.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • A New York Times bestseller

Russka Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.58333333333333 out of 53.58333333333333 out of 53.58333333333333 out of 53.58333333333333 out of 53.58333333333333 out of 5 (3.58)
5 Stars: 7
4 Stars: 6
3 Stars: 8
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love this Edward Rutherfurd historical fiction stuff!! This one centers on the development of Russia. "

    — Kathy, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " "Softly the wind moves over the land." A simple phrase, yet beautiful. I'm currently reading this epic account of the history of Russia, told from the viewpoint of individuals in novelized form. "

    — Darcie, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love all of Rutherford's books, but this was one of my favorites because of all of the Russian history, especially the description of Ivan the Terrible. Sarun and London are good reads, too. "

    — marsha, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another epic well-researched saga from Rutherfurd. Comparable to Sarum,London and the Irish sagas. "

    — Terry, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is a book as vast as Russia itself. Covers very early history from AD 180 to 1992. It follows several families and locales through the ages and adds fascinating information about Russia in the process. A very good historical novel. "

    — Judy, 1/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is the third Rutherford book I've read, and I didn't like it as much as Sarum or the Princes of Ireland. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read a looooong book. But, I thought I was... "

    — Diane, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good, but over 1400 pages long. An excruciating amount of detail about Russia, starting in the year 100, running through present day. "

    — Pamela, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Took it on a long trip, it kept me company, almost 2000 years of Russian history put to fiction, layered in strife and pain of a peoples who have never been free. Takes a certain interest in people/history to want to read this. "

    — Janette, 12/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book was really long and could be potentially be boring but for some reason I liked it. "

    — Raquel, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Epic tale of 1000+ years of complicated Russian history, made more interesting by the characters woven throughout the book. I liked it, but I enjoyed the author's trilogy of London, Sarum, and New Forest more. I think he had more sympathy for the English characters. "

    — Dana, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Rutherford needs a better editor. "

    — Daryoush, 12/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Very interesting details about this area of the world. Makes me want to go and see for myself! "

    — Christine, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Epic. Traces a family over a 1000 years of Russian history. "

    — Leonard, 11/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Written to follow the beat of the Russian psyche; Rutherfurd captures the vastness of it all. It's a great read -- gave it only 4 stars because it's such a long read. Painfully long, but then, there's the art of it! "

    — Leslie, 10/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best books ever written period. Rutherford gives tremendous insight into 1800 years of Russian history, albeit through a fictional approach. "

    — Sera, 9/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The author made good research about the history of this glorious Nation, making the novel a excellent canvas of blood and flesh and retracing its history for two thousand years... "

    — Abel, 8/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fascinating tales following the history of Russia. "

    — Sarah, 6/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Was a good read at the beginning but I didn't finish the last century. A bit too long to hold my interest. "

    — Lisa, 6/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " While I loved both "London" and "Sarum", I found "Russka" impenetrable and gave up after about 100 pages. "

    — Martin, 6/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " It is a long sweeping saga of Russia from the point of view of the peasant and the effect of politics on the family and business. It took all summer to get through all 946 pages. It's as equally as good as his other novels. "

    — Fran, 2/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked this book. Very interesting with a few things I would have liked to skip. "

    — Honey, 1/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Tried my hardest to get through this book but couldn't. It is like four stories in one and they don't tie together. I was hoping it would be a historical fiction of sorts but was disappointed with the way this book read. "

    — Heather, 12/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I tried but found this so hard to read. "

    — Gemma, 10/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved this one. Fast read just like London and Sarum. "

    — Erin, 10/10/2012

About Edward Rutherfurd

Edward Rutherfurd is one of the most renowned writers of historical fiction. He was born in Salisbury, England, christened in Salisbury Cathedral, and spent his early childhood in Salisbury Close. He was educated at Cambridge University and Stanford University in California. He has written several bestselling books, including Sarum, Russka, and London.

About Wanda McCaddon

Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.