Art objects, textiles, and photographic images are set against a white background for dramatic effect, and accompanying text tells the story of each item pictured. This is a grand book, good either for flipping through or perusing in more depth. Certainly an impressive addition to a bookshelf focusing on art, Russia, or history.
This was very much like a text book which detailed Russian history for the earliest beginnings through the murder of the Imperial family during the Russian Revolution pf 1917.
I remember that in college I was fascinated with Russian history. Now, I find it ever so bloody, so violent and oppressive.
The common thread running through is that the leaders were not prepared to rule, they either inherited or took violent control of the throne.