At a time when tensions between Russia and "the West'' are increasing, this book is very timely, even though, its contents were first broadcast over fifty years ago. It offers a history of Russian culture and its particular trends and tendencies, which are shown to be frequently contradictory and even mutually exclusive. Schmemann argues for the supremacy of culture over political life in determining questions such as the apparent lack of political freedoms, law and order and civil rights in a Russian context. AUTHORS: Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) was born in Estonia, raised and educated in France. He spent most of his working life in the United States as an Orthodox priest, educator, author and radio broadcaster, serving as Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary in Yonkers, New York from 1962 until his death in 1983. Many of his books remain in print both in English, Russian and other languages. The Rev. Nathan K. Williams is a professional translator. He studied Russian at Holy Trinity Seminary (Jordanville, NY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in Theology, and went on to receive a master's degree in Russian from Middlebury College,Vermont. In addition to his work as a translator he serves as an Orthodox priest at St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Gardiner, Maine. Serge Schmemann is an award winning journalist, writer and broadcaster. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for coverage of the reunification of Germany and an Emmy in 2003 for his work on a television documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was the deputy foreign editor of the New York Times from 1999 to 2001, having previously served as a Times correspondent and bureau chief in Moscow, Bonn and Jerusalem and at the United Nations. From 2003 to 2013 he worked as editorial page editor of The International Herald Tribune in Paris from 2003 to 2013. A graduate of Harvard College he holds an M.A. from Columbia University. He has authored two books and is a member of the editorial board of the New York Times. He lives in Washington, DC.