Instead of going into the specifics of Gorbachev's reforms and experiments, Hosking examines the forces of change within Soviet society that were at work before Gorbachev took charge, that are pushing his regime into uncharted waters, and that will determine his success or failure. Originally presented as the 1988 Reith Lectures, later updated and revised, the essays illustrate the author's grasp of Russian history and contemporary realities, including Gorbachev's dilemmas. He views the future with both hope and foreboding.