Army of the Sky—Russian Military Aviation Before the Great War, 1904-1914

Vitarbo (history, Meredith College) traces the development of Russian military aviation from 1904 to 1914 as a way to examine the relationship between modernization and Russian Imperial officer culture. It was a time of explosive growth in a number of areas, from politics and technology to socio-economic differentiation and expansion of the authorities of the government. And while the officer corps was rooted in well-established traditions and deep ties to the old order reflected in its close relationship to the tsar and the nobility. Topics include reform in the Russian Imperial Army and institutions and adaptations, as well as the politics and professionalism of command, and aviation, military culture, and modernization. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Gregory Vitarbo received his BA in history from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, and his PhD in Russian/Soviet history from the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty of Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the fall of 2001, where he teaches in the fields of Russian/Soviet history, Modern European history, military history, and technology and culture. His publications include a book chapter and article in Slavic Review as well as numerous book and textbook reviews.