The Russian Dagger

by Virginia Cowles

"Cowles keeps her narrative flowing fearlessly through the troubled times." Kirkus Review

The Russian Dagger tells the dramatic story of Imperialist Russia and its appetite for expansion in Europe during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Beginning with the reign of the repressive Nicholas I, Virginia Cowles traces the rule of the Romanov dynasty right to the cusp of one of the greatest political conflicts of the twentieth century – the First World War.

In an engaging and entertaining style, Virginia Cowles covers Russia’s role abroad in the conflict over the Balkan States against an intriguing backdrop of family feuds and revolutionary impulses back home.

Bitter family rivalries and assassination attempts abound - including the violent assassinations of Tsar Alexander II and the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Cowles also examines the subversive revolutionary activities which numbered among the many challenges facing the reign of the Russian Tsars.

The Russian Dagger shines a light upon the frailty of the Tsarist position at the beginning of the twentieth century, and how Russia's expansionist aspirations led the country to the brink of its own destruction.

Recommended for fans of Simon Sebag Montefiore, Orlando Figes and Helen Rappaport.

Virginia Cowles (1910-83) was a well-respected American journalist and biographer, especially known for her coverage of the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. For her service as a war correspondent she was awarded an OBE by the British government in 1947. She authored fifteen books, about her journalistic experiences, various historical topics, figures and families, and was a contributor to Vogue and Harper’s.

Praise for Virginia Cowles:

‘A fascinating historical read’ The Telegraph

‘A rarity and a joy – a witty novel’ Birmingham Daily Post

‘A luminously sketched view of human folly’ The New York Times

‘For the political background alone you must read Cowles’ book, which deals with it admirably’ Country Life

Genres: History, Russia

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

(Harriet) Virginia Spencer Cowles OBE was a noted American journalist, biographer, and travel writer. During her long career, Cowles went from covering fashion, to covering the Spanish Civil War, the turbulent period in Europe leading up to World War II, and the entire war. Her service as a correspondent was recognized by the British government with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1947. After the war, she published a number of critically acclaimed biographies of historical figures. In 1983, while traveling with her husband in France, she was killed in an automobile accident near Biarritz.

Reviews

[Shiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super insightful book

Really in-depth knowledgeable book on Russian wars from 1800s to present. Very informative and enjoyable read. Highly recommended for Russian lovers.

[Laurie Symon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. I expected this to be dry and a real challenge to get through, but the author succeeds in making it engaging. I would have enjoyed seeing this book continue to the rise of Bolshevikism, however it sets the scene extremely well for World War I and explains many of the complexities of the Balkan nations in the 19th century.

[Richard Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passable history

A basic but readable history of Russian influence I the Balkans through the 19th century up to WW1 - passable

[Vivek · Rating 3 out of 5]

...a light read. Definitely does not deserve the subtitle "Cold War is the daysbof the Tsars". Nothing even remotely Cold War-ey in the narrative.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowles makes very clear the issues in the Balkans that led to The Great War. Well written and entertaining.