In 1945 the USSR was at the height of its international power and prestige, but years of prolonged hardship were to follow as Stalinist dictatorship was ruthlessly imposed. Since 1988 the mantle of Soviet secrecy has begun to lift, allowing historians access to some of the country's vast archival resources. Last of the Empires explores the central currents of political, cultural, social, and economic development running through 56 crucial years of Soviet rule, enabling us to gain a greater understanding of what has been called one of the most tragic experiences in human history.