Couchsurfing in Russia: Friendships and Misadventures Behind Putin's Curtain

Description

An unconventional travelogue of Russia, a country that inspires both fear and fascination. 'In the late summer of 2016,' writes award-winning travel writer Stephan Orth, 'a journey to Russia feels like visiting enemy territory.' In this humorous and thought-provoking book, Orth ventures through that vast and mysterious land to uncover the real, unfiltered Russia not seen in today's headlines- authentic, bizarre, dangerous, and beautiful. Sidestepping the well-trod tourist path by staying with an eclectic array of hosts, he bumps into gun nuts, internet conspiracy theorists, faux shamans, and Putin fans; learns to drive in death-defying Russian style; and discovers how to cure hangovers by sniffing rye bread. But he also sees a darker side of the country, witnessing firsthand the effects of Putin's influence in the run-up to the American election and the power of propaganda in this 'post-fact' era. Weaving everything together with thoughtfulness and warmth, Orth follows the bestselling Couchsurfing in Iran with another complex, funny, and personal travelogue - a colourful portrait of a fascinating and misunderstood country.

Stephan Orth is an acclaimed journalist and bestselling author. A recipient of the ITB Book Award and a two-time winner of the Columbus Award for travel writing, he has written four previous books, including Couchsurfing in Iran, which has been translated into several languages. Orth lives in Hamburg, Germany.