USSR

Marx and Engels invented it; Lenin volunteered Russia for the honour of trying it; the Soviet people had to live with it ... This tongue-in-cheek travel guide is a cherishably witty insight into the chaotic, bewildering and sometimes scary society that resulted from this heroically doomed effort to 'build Communism'. It teaches you basic Soviet survival skills including how to queue for useless products, bribe your way into empty restaurants and contravene anti-alcohol measures.

‘The authors’ pen is driven not only by a blind hatred of socialism but also a genuine pathological medical condition.’ Young Communists’ Pravda (1986)

‘In 1986 USSR was a prescient, hilarious and inspirational take on the evil empire. For Soviet totalitarianism ridicule was a deadly foe. To Polonsky and Taylor, the thanks of all those who were once captive and are now free.’ Edward Lucas, International Editor, Economist

Marc Polonsky and Russell Taylor studied Russian at Oxford University. After failing to be recruited by either Cold War power upon their graduation in 1983, they set up a travel business running trips to the Soviet Union, and wrote USSR: From an Original Idea by Karl Marx ... (Faber, 1986).

Russell is the creator (with cartoonist Charles Peattie) of the famous Alex cartoon, which has appeared since 1987 (in the Daily Telegraph since 1992). In 2002 he was honoured with a MBE for services to the newspaper industry. Marc is a partner of international law firm White & Case, with particular experience representing investors and development banks in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. He was based in Moscow for ten years (from 1998 to 2008).