Join us and Oxford University Press at the Calvert 22 Bookshop to meet journalist Shaun Walker at the launch of his book The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past, which offers a powerful new explanation of why Putin succeeded in reviving Russia from the wreckage of the 1990s.

Shaun will be on hand for a Q&A with Nadia Beard, Editor in Chief of The Calvert Journal, followed by a book signing and drinks.

About the book

The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past

Shaun Walker, one of the longest-serving Moscow correspondents, presents a deeply reported, bottom-up explanation of Russia’s resurgence under Putin. By cleverly exploiting the memory of the Soviet victory over fascism in World War II, Putin’s regime has made ordinary Russians feel that their country is great again.

Walker provides new insight into contemporary Russia and its search for a new identity, telling the story through the country’s troubled relationship with its Soviet past. He not only explains Vladimir Putin’s goals and the government’s official manipulations of history, but also focuses on ordinary Russians and their motivations. The narrative roams from the corridors of the Kremlin to the wilds of the Gulags and the trenches of East Ukraine.

Packed with analysis but told through vibrant reportage, this is a compelling exploration of the legacy of the Soviet collapse and how it has affected life in Russia and Putin’s policies.

Published by Oxford University Press.

About the author

Shaun Walker is the Moscow correspondent for The Guardian, a role he previously held at the Independent. He studied Russian and Soviet history at Oxford University, and has worked as a journalist in Moscow for more than a decade.

Booking terms: pay what you wish

For a limited number of our events, attendees can pay what they wish for admission via Eventbrite. The suggested admission fee is £5. Please follow the booking URL to finalise your order.