Russia and the First World War: A Fatal Mistake?

Thursday 1 November, at 19:00, the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies will be holding its 6th annual public lecture to mark Armistice Day and the Centenary of the First World War.

The title of the lecture is: RUSSIA AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR: A FATAL MISTAKE? 

This year’s distinguished speaker is Professor Dominic Lieven, Senior Research Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge and Fellow of the British Academy. Professor Lieven is a eminent Historian of Russia with award-winning books. In this public lecture, Professor Lieven will tell us the fascinating, dramatic and hugely important story of Russia’s descent into the First World War and its fatal impact on generations of Russians in the long twentieth century. Professor Lieven’s close study of diaries, letters, books and official documents give a very different interpretation of the First World War, from an Eastern perspective, and shows the underestimated role of Russia’s leaders in the Great War.

The lecture room, in Edith Morley G27, is now completely booked, but there is a waiting list, in case of cancellations. Please, contact e.best@reading.ac.uk to book on the waiting list. 

The series is intended to enhance the bonds between the University and the local community, and to highlight the First World War as a focal point of research in the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies.

This research is led by Drs Marjorie Gehrhardt and Athena S. Leoussi.