Free Russia

"Free Russia" by William Hepworth Dixon is a book about Russia's transformation after the Crimean War. It paints a picture of the country's culture, society, and religion as it moves toward freedom and change. The book tells the stories of different people, like monks, travelers, and people living in the countryside, who were all part of this changing time. It starts by showing readers the rough but beautiful lands of the north, talking about the people who lived there, like the Lapps and Samoyeds. Dixon uses his travels to show how these groups changed their lives and customs because of the new political and social environment. He combines personal stories with historical facts to highlight the difficulties of being Russian during this time, showing how the country's identity was changing.