The Invention of Russia: The Journey from Gorbachev's Freedom to Putin's War

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In 1991, when still a student at the Moscow Institute of Theatre Arts in the Soviet Union, I met a man to whom I owe my journalistic career and who inspired me to write this book. John Lloyd was the Moscow Bureau Chief at the Financial Times. He did not just report on Russia – he lived it – and made that story part of his own life. Twelve years later, I was a Moscow correspondent for the FT and John asked me to write about Russian television and its impact on politics for the FT Weekend Magazine, which he edited. This book grew out of that seed. I could never have attempted or completed it without his support and friendship.

Toby Mundy, the former publisher of Atlantic Books, commissioned the book and put his faith in it on the basis of a single conversation. His enthusiasm, encouragement and interest in the subject allowed me to broaden its scope and explore different avenues even as one deadline passed after another. When Toby departed from Atlantic, he left me in the most capable hands of James Nightingale, whose calm professionalism, intellectual curiosity and patience steered this book into publication. He made the editing a creative and enjoyable process. I am grateful to Jane Robertson, who proofread the book and Jenny Overton who copy-edited it. I thank my agent Zoë Waldie for her advice and professionalism.

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