A comprehensive overview of the Crimean War, fought actively between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, France, Piedmont-Sardinia and Great Britain (and with the indirect participation of Austria-Hungary, as well as several partisan groups) in 1853-1856.

Orlando Figes argues three main points:

1. The war was far more about Russia's vision of itself as the protector of the Orthodox Church and pan-Slavic sentiment than many historians have believed.

2. The origins of the First World War lie largely in the direct and indirect outcomes of the Crimean War, especially a fundamental failure to address the backwardness and weakness of Turkey and in opening the door to a realignment of Europe as set forth in the 1815 Treaty of Vienna.

3. Military professionalism in Britain and Russia, as well as the objects of both nations' late colonial empire periods, were both directly attributable to the Crimean War.

The Crimean War paints a complete picture of the conflict, from how it came to be, through the siege of Sevastopol (which rightly receives most of Figes's attention), to the political aftermath for the rest of the 19th Century.

Well-written, but I wouldn't call it "breezy." Chapter lengths and depth of detail are such that it's not appropriate for nightstand reading.

I'm pleased, overall, with this book, as I was pretty much starting from zero in terms of my knowledge about the conflict. It was easy to follow the themes, personalities and nuances; Figes defends his points well, and the book's salient points have stuck well in my mind.