Formal Education

When it comes to Russian history, you just cannot forget or miss the contributions of Orlando Riges, who has you can say dedicated his life in studying Russian history, writing on it, researching thoroughly and bringing unknown and analytical facts to surface. His works has got accolades all over the world and his references are always used when it comes to Russian History. Presently he is a professor at Birbeck College, University of London and can be said is one of the best professor of history in Europe right now. Orlando Figes was always interested in history from the time he was studying in school at William Ellis, which was a grammar school when he got admission there but later changed into a comprehensive college.

Orlando Figes was born on November 20, 1959 and after completing his high school from William Ellis, he went on to pursue his graduation at Cambridge University in Gonville and Caius College, one of the most famous college for history studies during those times. His has written number of books and his inspiration to write books was common in the family of three members with other two members, his sister and mother both being famous feminist writers themselves. He passed Cambridge University with double starred First, a very rare thing in University of such high standard and this shows how educated and passionate he is about history. This is the passion which can be seen in his books as well.

Few of the most notable books by Orlando Figes are–A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia, The Whisperer’s: Private Life In Stalin’s Russia, Crimea: The Last Crusade, Interpreting The Russian Revolution: The Language and Symbols of 1917, Peasant Russia, Civil War: The Volga Countryside in Revolution, 1917 – 1921. All this books are taken as very valuable source of information on Russian History and most of these books have written awards and nomination for famous prizes. These books have also got many international acclaims. Orlando Figes was also the Fellow of Trinity College till 1999.

Orlando Figes’s book A People’s Tragedy has won many awards, namely The Wolfson History Prize, WH Smith Literary Award, NCR Book award, Longman- History Today Book Prize and also the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Orlando Figes is also the only writer in the world to have been nominated for Samuel Johnson prize. Overall, it can be said that if you are really looking for something about Russian History, his books and writings will help you a lot in finding what you are looking for exactly.