Reviews

Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted to Christianity in A.D. 989, joining Russia to Europe and the Western world, not to the Asiatic. This first full-length biography of the prince concentrates on his life prior to the conversion and on the events (both political and spiritual) that led to his decision to adopt Christianity, with less detail on subsequent events. The author has relied heavily on the Russian Chronicle of Bygone Years as his source, but supplemented it with chronicles by Arab historians, Icelandic bards, and Greek monks. Differing interpretations have been relegated to extensive footnotes. The result is a highly readable, well-paced account that will appeal to nonspecialists as well as to historians. Marcia L. Sprules, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion