| For most
western visitors, the bulk of Russia's history is nothing more than a
compendium of hazy legends and sensationalist rumors--from scurrilous
stories about Catherine the Great to tabloid television reports of the
miraculous survival of the children of Nicholas II. However, the factual
history of the country is no less compelling than its fabulous history,
and even a brief introduction to the great and not-so-great figures of
its past make a visit far more rewarding. The first few years of Soviet rule were marked by an extraordinary outburst of social and cultural change. Although the Bolsheviks had maintained complete control of the economy during the civil war, Lenin decided at its end that a partial return to a market economy would help the country recover from the destruction of the previous three years. His New Economic Policy, or NEP, brought about a period of relative prosperity, allowing the young Soviet government to consolidate its political position and rebuild the country's infrastructure. This was also the period during which the Russian Avant-Garde reached its height, developing the radical new styles of Constructivism, Futurism, and Suprematism. Although the country still faced enormous challenges, there was a widespread sense of optimism and opportunity. |