The Land of Riddles (Russia of To-day)

"The Land of Riddles (Russia of To-day)" by Hugo Ganz is a record of early 20th-century Russia that shows the interesting differences between its rich culture and harsh political system. The book looks at Russian society at the time, with Ganz sharing his thoughts on the challenges faced by different groups, like artists, rebels, and Jewish people. Ganz explains why he decided to travel to Russia, mainly because he was curious about the big gap between the country's famous culture and its cruel government. The beginning of the book tells us that Ganz wants to give an honest view of what life was really like in Russia at that time, focusing on how political control limited personal freedom. As he gets closer to the Russian border by train, he talks about his worries about going into a country known for its tough police force, while also showing his commitment to learning about and writing down the truth about Russian life. His thoughts show how much he wants to learn and hint at the observations he'll share in the rest of the book, which will look closely at the social and political situation in Russia in the early 1900s.