Paul W. Werth (History) is about to release a new book, 1837: Russia's Quiet Revolution with Oxford University Press. In chapters ranging from poetry and opera to empire and industry, the book paints a rich and vivid portrait of Russia at a critical moment, when the world's largest country acquired many of its most distinctive and outstanding features. In contrast to accounts that portray this era as one of stasis and stagnation, Russia's Quiet Revolution reveals dynamism and dramatic movement. However seemingly inconspicuous, the year 1837 was in fact central for Russia's entry into the modern age.