Gabriel Gorodetsky is a Quondam Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and emeritus professor of history at Tel Aviv University.
"[Maisky's] vast diary is a fascinating and invaluable source on
wartime relations between Moscow and London. . . . A triumph of
meticulous scholarship and enlightened publishing."—David Reynolds,
Times Literary Supplement
"Its candid depictions of the British political and social scene .
. . are a find of historic importance and fascination."—Nicholas
Shakespeare, The Daily Telegraph
"Maisky’s wonderful diary offers refreshing insights into the
turbulent 1930s. . . . Sparkled amid his fascinating observations
of momentous developments is some delightful gossip, to which
Maisky was addicted. . . . Maisky’s painful reflections on the
British character remind one of Samuel Pepys or Dr.
Johnson."—Gerard DeGroot, The Times
"Maisky was . . . clever, cultured, an exceptionally shrewd
observer of Britain during his 11 years as ambassador in London
from 1932. . . . Maisky’s diaries make a significant new
contribution to the historiography of his time, for which their
editor deserves congratulations."—Max Hastings, Sunday Times
"Deftly edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky. . . . This is a must-read for
aficionados of diplomatic history and especially of interwar
British high society."—Stephen Kotkin, The Wall Street Journal
"A gripping mixture of scholarship and gossip, filled with
uncensored sketches of Churchill, Eden, Chamberlain and Lloyd
George."—Nicholas Shakespeare, Daily Telegraph
"These diaries throw new light from a fresh angle on the lead-up to
1939 and the subsequent course of the war . . . this is an
exceptionally readable, as well as important, story."—John Joliffe,
Spectator
". . . an extraordinary document left by an extraordinary
man."—Andy McSmith, The Independent
". . . easily the most important diary of the Second World War
period since Fringes of Power, Jack Colville’s records of working
for Churchill, were published more than 30 years ago. Like
Colville, Maisky had genuine literary talent as well as the ability
constantly to be at the right place at the right time . . . All new
accounts of the period will have to quote them in future . .
. intensely readable, highly revelatory and well
edited."—Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard
". . . may turn out to be the most important contribution of
21st-century historical scholarship to our understanding of the
causes, courses and consequences of the Second World War. . . . It
will be read—it will be metaphorically devoured—by anyone remotely
interested in understanding the history of humanity’s darkest
century."—S.J.D Green, Standpoint
"Gorodetsky’s clear and precise commentary reminds us that
Stalinist terror discouraged Soviet diplomats from writing too
much, especially from keeping a diary, in the 1930s. This makes
Maisky’s diaries, on which Gorodetsky has worked for the last 15
years, all the more precious – in fact a unique document."—La Monde
diplomatique
"This chronicle of his embassy before and during the Second World
War abounds in interest. It not only sheds fresh light on
Anglo-Soviet relations but also contains fascinating accounts of
prominent British figures . . . [Gorodetsky] deserves all credit
for a masterly feat of original research and scholarly
exposition."— Piers Brendon, Literary Review
"With their dramatized accounts of British policies and society in
the pre-war world and later, his diaries are a feast . . ."—George
Walden, New Statesman
"A marvellous find."—Marcus Tanner, The Independent
"Anyone interested in this country’s attempts to appease then
defeat Nazi Germany now has a treasure trove in the secret diaries
of Ivan Maisky, Stalin’s ambassador to London. . . . Maisky was
brilliantly effective in forming relationships with leading British
politicians, such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, so
the diaries are full of unforgettable personal insights into these
giants."—Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail
Received a special mention as an outstanding contribution for the
Pushkin House Russian Book Prize
"A fascinating, rich volume, brimming over with insights into two
radically different worlds. It only whets the reader's appetite for
the full three-volume edition . . . which will surely stand as one
of the great achievements of twenty-first century historical
scholarship."—Niall Ferguson
"Maisky’s diary, impeccably edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky, is not
only a work of major historical importance. It also provides an
utterly fascinating view of Anglo-Soviet relations and British
politics during the critical period of 1932 to 1943."—Antony
Beevor
"Astonishing! Really remarkable. . . . Perhaps the greatest
political diary of the twentieth century."—Paul Kennedy
"It is a book that makes us understand the period of appeasement
afresh, tells the human story of an un-Bolshevik character
teetering on the edge of Stalinist disaster, and reminds us just
how important great diplomats have been in dangerous times."—Andrew
Marr, New Statesman
*New Statesman*
"These diaries throw new light from a fresh angle on the lead-up to
1939 and the subsequent course of the war . . . this is an
exceptionally readable, as well as important, story."—John Joliffe,
Spectator
*The Spectator*
‘Recently discovered diaries by the Soviet ambassador to the UK
from 1932 give fascinating insights into Britain before and during
the war.’ - The Sunday Times
*The Sunday Times*
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