Ships from: Long Branch, NJ
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Long Branch, NJ
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Spring Branch, TX
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Spring Branch, TX
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: North Dartmouth, MA
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Troy, NY
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Troy, NY
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
"Today, on the last day of the outgoing century, I resign… Russia must enter the new millennium with new politicians, with new faces, with new intelligent, strong, energetic people, and we who have been in power for many years must go."
On December 31, 1999, Russian president Boris Yeltsin stunned the world by stepping down six months ahead of schedule. His decision was cloaked in secrecy, and his announcement rivaled the Eiffel Tower fireworks for dramatic effect.
In his new memoir, Yeltsin looks back on the struggles and upheavals in Russia over the last few years and his own role as the man who held the strings. Opening with his now famous Millennial Eve speech, he reflects on a decade of leadership, decisions, and crucial events, from the coup of 1991 to his first showdown with Parliament in 1993, Chechnya, and more. He ponders politics, his family, his relationship with Bill Clinton, and how he wants history to remember him. The style throughout is "vintage Yeltsin" - pithy, direct, anecdotal.
Midnight Diaries is the ultimate insider's story of the Russian Federation from 1991 - 1999. It's also the portrait of a man who, despite reactionary forces and the pull of communist doctrine, was determined to give his country and people a better future.
Anonymous
Posted January 20, 2001
Boris Yeltsin, according to this book, is a great man--he is responsible for all of Russia's recent successes and none of its failures. He deliberately made himself appear weak and unstable in order to fool his enemies and bravely sacrificed his public image for the good of Mother Russia. No doubt Boris Yeltsin believes these things about himself, but the intelligent reader will not share his delusions. Midnight Diaries is Yeltsin's last propoganda, a post-hoc explanation for his weaknesses as a leader. It does include some brave admissions, for instance, that Yeltsin nearly ended Russia's democracy, but on the whole, it is one-sided. The book does have a few good points: Yeltsin's personal opinion of world leaders are interesting, and the book makes an intriguing (if indirect)commentary of the disparity between the way we view ourselves and the way the world views us. It reminded me how much we Americans take our democracy for granted But, if you are looking for an accurate and unbiased chronicle of Russia's transition to democracy, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
"Today, on the last day of the outgoing century, I resign… Russia must enter the new millennium with new politicians, with new faces, with new intelligent, strong, energetic people, and we who have been in power for many years must go."
On December 31, 1999, Russian president Boris Yeltsin stunned the world by stepping down six months ahead of schedule. His decision was cloaked in secrecy, and his announcement rivaled the Eiffel Tower fireworks for dramatic effect.
In his new ...