The August Coup: The Destruction of the Soviet Union and the Making of New Russia

From acclaimed author Robert Service comes a dramatic and expertly researched account of the pivotal August Coup of 1991, a moment that irrevocably altered Russian and global politics.

This gripping narrative details the attempted overthrow of Mikhail Gorbachev by a group of high-ranking plotters aiming to restore authoritarian rule. The book meticulously reconstructs the events, from Gorbachev's capture to the coup's swift and shambolic collapse, which ultimately accelerated the dissolution of the USSR and ushered in a new era of capitalism.

Service explores the unintended consequences of Gorbachev's reforms, including rampant corruption and conflict, and the subsequent emergence of a New Russia under Boris Yeltsin, whose promises of economic prosperity largely went unfulfilled. The book draws a compelling line from the coup itself to contemporary Russia under Vladimir Putin, offering a thorough and original chronicle of a defining historical event.

Key Features:

• Expertly researched historical account of the August Coup of 1991.
• Minute-by-minute re-enactment of key events.
• Analysis of the transition from communism to capitalism in Russia.
• Links the coup to the development of modern Russia.
• Written by acclaimed historian Robert Service.

Specifications:

• Author: Robert Service
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Page Count: 432 pages
• Publication Date: June 11, 2026
• Dimensions: 15.56 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm
• Weight: 515 g
• Reading Age: 18 years and up
• ISBN-10: 152906578X
• ISBN-13: 978-1529065787

This compelling work is essential reading for anyone fascinated by the fall of the Soviet Union and the complex history of modern Russia.