The Thaw

"A very pioneering work in an emerging field of study, The Thaw makes a major contribution to the social and cultural history of the late Soviet period. The essays in this volume are consistently of a high standard, presenting state-of-the-art research on a dynamic period that is only now receiving its due attention." -- Miriam Dobson, Department of History, University of Sheffield "Successfully bringing together some of the most significant new work on the Thaw, this volume greatly expands our understanding of a pivotal period in Soviet history." -- Charters Wynn, Department of History, University of Texas at Austin

Featuring innovative research by historical, literary, and film scholars from across the world, this book helps to answer fundamental questions about the nature and ultimate fortune of the Soviet order – both in its internal dynamics and in its long-term and global perspectives.

The period from Stalin’s death in 1953 to the end of the 1960s marked a crucial epoch in Soviet history. Though not overtly revolutionary, this era produced significant shifts in policies, ideas, language, artistic practices, daily behaviours, and material life. It was also during this time that social, cultural, and intellectual processes in the USSR began to parallel those in the West (and particularly in Europe) as never before.

This volume examines in fascinating detail the various facets of Soviet life during the 1950s and 1960s, a period termed the ‘Thaw.’ Featuring innovative research by historical, literary, and film scholars from across the world, this book helps to answer fundamental questions about the nature and ultimate fortune of the Soviet order – both in its internal dynamics and in its long-term and global perspectives.