We cannot hope to find peace with Russia unless we seek to understand Russian history in all its complexity, its highs and lows, its tragedies and its farces, its inspirations and its horrors. To understand that rich history, we need to confront the Black Legend of Russian History, which tells a story of a benighted people, cursed to poverty, despotism and the dark strivings of the Russian soul. What is the black legend of Russian history? That is the question on the Burning Archive.

Vale Mikhail Gorbachev.

Credits:

- Mark B. Smith The Russia Anixiety (2019) - Do buy this book - it is essential to understanding Russia and the world today.

- Leonid Kharitonov and The Russian Red Army Choir - "Song of the Volga Boatmen" ("Yo, Heave Ho!", "Ej, Uhnem!") The concert in Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, 1965 via Youtube

65. The Black Legend of Russian History