St. Petersburg: Russia's Window to the Future, The First Three Centuries

St. Petersburg: Russia's Window to the Future, The First Three Centuries by George, Arthur L.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781589790179.

Throughout its history, and particularly since the downfall of the USSR, St. Petersburg has held a unique fascination both within and outside of Russia. One of the worlds most vibrant and storied metroplises, St. Petesburg celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2003. This full-length narrative history chronicles the distinctively beautiful city from its founding by Peter the Great in 1703 through its modern renaissance in the era of Vladimir Putin. St. Petersburg covers the citys political and social history, as well as its infinite contributions to scholarship, culture, and world politics. Particular attention is paid to St. Petersburgs frequent role as Russias key link to the West and modernism, and the relevance of this to present-day Russia as it endeavors to become a civil society.