Russia Then and Now: Masha Gessen and Simon Sebag Montefiore (Perth Writers Festival 2016)

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore and Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen share their insights with David Cohen at the Perth Writers Festival 2016.

[@brucevilla]

Thanks for Uploading.

[@usg-647]

Greatly entertaining and insightful. They both bring a lot - Masha Gessen, expert on authoritarianism. Montefiore a fun take, but also grounded in the history & archives. Lots of fun, including Montefiore takes on the Romanovs & Stalin. Then - listen to the end - and the last 1 minute from Masha Gessen - haunting.

[@MrJm323]

1:14 .....Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge University, is pronounced "Gonville & Keys" actually.

[@zandermcconnochie6898]

Interesting to learn about Vlad the bad

[@yellowhead68]

tchaykovsky.info/pyataya/evrey_kolona.htm

[@andreasbotha6356]

First time that I have seen Montefiore a bit out of his depth regarding contemporary knowledge of Russia. I think he is an absolutely brilliant historian and novelist on the Romanovs, but Gessen does seem to be a little more informed on matters happening right now. I am absolutely fascinated with the Romanovs... I would love to ask Montefiore what his opinion is on how the Romanovs ruled differently than the red Tzars... where they just as cruel, or were they a little more compassionate.

[@joby19881]

Andreas Botha that’s a bloody good question. I know what you mean too regarding Gessen’s contemporary knowledge. It’s interesting what Montefiore says about the lack of archived information on Putin’s thoughts. Who knows, maybe one day, after he eventually he is succeeded, some secret documents will emerge and all will be revealed!

[@VanlifewithAlan]

I am always talking about my haemerroids too. Fortunately I don't have gout.

[@rafaelsanz6070]

Sebag Montefiore is certainly more brilliant and deeper than Gessen. Gessen is boring, Montefiore is just fascinating.

[@Tonestire]

immediately no, immediately no

[@Alfablue227]

Gessen is brilliant!

[@markofsaltburn]

He certainly likes the sound of his own voice.