Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

For those in the West fascinated by Russia, it can be difficult to get accurate information about what goes on in our neighbor to the East. Western correspondents can and do influence our knowledge of Russia, and Russia in turn develops their opinions of Western correspondents. In Assignment Moscow, James Rodgers takes a look at the revolutionary period to the First World War and on to discuss how news has been released from Russia through the eyes of Western writers, and how their writing was and is influenced by local events and local figures.

For those fascinated by the concepts of reporting on Chernobyl, or the October Revolution, and the influence of media, this is a fascinating read..

For years it was not easy to get into Russia, the language and written script are not readily accessible to most Westerners and, even now, relatively few of us spend a significant time there, getting to know the people. Most in the West find it difficult to fathom out the Russian character, to understand what motivates them, and why strong leadership has appealed to them for so many centuries.  We have tended to rely on the facts that western journalists choose to give us, and their interpretations of those facts. "Assignment Moscow" considers the work of a selection of western journalists who covered Russia during the century from the 1917 revolutions to 2019. The author doesn't spare those journalists who fell for Soviet or Russian propaganda throughout this period and demonstrates that a tightrope has always had to be walked in order to avoid being declared or treated as "persona non grata" for criticism that the authorities perceive to be unfair.  All in all, this book gives a fascinating new take on the history of Russia over the past eventful century. With many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.

A history of the work of western correspondents and journalists in Russia from the Revolution to the Putin era. The highs and lows of reporting from a less than open society, the difficulties and the often very real dangers plus the ever-present problem of censorship. The author himself has been a foreign correspondent in Russia and knows of what he speaks. The book is clearly and accessibly written and offers an overview of Russian history since 1917 alongside chronicling the travails of the men and women tasked with explaining an often mysterious and secretive society to the outside world. An enjoyable, entertaining, informative and insightful read and a must for all Russophiles.