I'm coming at Volume 1 and 2 of this set from a 'Big History' perspective - that is, I'm interested in how the geographical unit of modern day Russia evolved economically, culturally, and politically over time, prior to the Soviet era. And yet at the same time I'm also interested in the minutiae of these phenomena.
And that's what the Cambridge Histories do so well - they're both extensive AND comprehensive. So you get a good look at the big picture, but also the finer details of those larger elements. The end result is that while reading almost any instance of a Cambridge history you come away with a much greater understanding of the subject than you had going in.
While reading this specific edition I can't pick out much that differs from the other Cambridge histories I've read, except for the subject matter itself. So generally, if you want a great overview of the period / geographical area, and can get your hands on a copy it will definitely be worth your time.