The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus

Plokhy's work offers fresh and persuasive perspectives on significant debates concerning the development of East Slavic identities. He provides a substantial contribution to the historical understanding of East Slavic nations, effectively meeting his goal to rethink the field. His book is essential for any historian interested in the East Slavs during the pre-modern era, according to David G. Rowley from the University of Wisconsin--Platteville.Described as an ambitious and impressive revisionist study, Plokhy's interpretation reveals new insights into the gradual separation of the East Slavic peoples as their historical paths diverged, particularly highlighted by the mutual misunderstandings of the 1654 Union of Pereiaslav. This work sets a high standard for future historians to explore East Slavic national identity, noted by Charles J. Halperin in the Canadian Journal of History.Daniel H. Kaiser, from the Slavic Review, highlights the book's strengths in summarizing key historical facts and discussing the major issues involved. Plokhy successfully differentiates the meanings of terms over time, providing valuable insights into East Slavic identities before modern times. His engaging style makes the book appealing beyond a specialist audience, as mentioned by Andrew M. Drozd from the Slavic and East European Journal.Serhy Yekelchyk in the Journal of Modern History remarks on Plokhy's ability to refute 'primordalist' views and reconstruct the communal identities that existed among Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. According to Brian J. Boeck from The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, this book is crucial for understanding premodern divisions in Eastern Europe. Robert H. Greene in the Journal of World History appreciates Plokhy's synthesis of Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian historiography, offering an original take on national identity formation.