What do the origins of the words glasnost, perestroika, sputnik or samovar tell us about Russia and the Soviet Union? This book provides an overview of the history and culture of the largest country in the world by selecting one hundred Russian words and discussing their links to specific events or historical periods. In this highly original format, a series of linguistic snapshots offers a montage of Russia's thousand-year-old story and its inextricable connections with the Russian language. Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, the Romanov dynasty, Trotsky and Stalin all feature in these pages, but so do everyday items which shed unusual light on aspects of social and cultural history, such as avós'ka (string bag), borodá (beard), kalitá (purse) and várezhki (mittens). Crammed full with both historical and etymological information, this book also includes fascinating facts about Russian writers, performers and musicians. Perfect for readers with a passion for all things Russian or for those wishing to learn more about this complex and engrossing country.