The Accidental Tsar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin. Andrew S Weiss & Brian 'Box' Brown

This is a book which has two main elements and characteristics, each represented by a different aspect of the publication – which actually work well together. At one level, it is a rapid, relatively superficial account of the life of Putin and what the authors believe to have been the experiences that make him the man he is. It is told in graphic form, which is slickly effective (I liked the way each of the chapters had one predominant background colour) but this means that the statements tend to be briskly assertive rather than nuanced explorations. However, this is offset by the fact that the main author (the writer as opposed to the graphic artist) has been intimately involved in international geopolitics at a very high level. Throughout the book, these experiences are referred to and they give a vivid insider view of the events and situations that are explored. These references are, because of the nature and style of the book, brief and at times made almost in passing which can be frustrating. However, it makes the brisk overview seem more likely and reliable than it would have been without these direct experiences.

A good introduction.