The Emergence of Russian Liberalism is a meticulous intellectual biography that will be of great use to historians of Russian social thought and literature. Berest s careful, sequential and deeply knowledgeable reconstruction of Alexander Kunitsyn s life is an impressive accomplishment. It shows how liberalism - as an ideology building from a belief in individual moral autonomy to imagine a laissez-faire world of social self-governance - did and did not fit within the great intellectual ferment of Russia s early nineteenth century Golden Age. - John Randolph, Associate Professor of History, University of IllinoisJulia Berest s book on Alexander Kunitsyn is a serious, important contribution to Russian intellectual history. In general, Russian liberal thought is an under-studied area and our knowledge of its early manifestations is particularly feeble. Berest s book will help to fill these gaps. - Alexander Etkind, Reader in Russian Literature and Cultural History, Department of Slavonic Studies, University of CambridgeA fascinating study of a significant subject. Berest s careful and original examination of Alexander Kunitsyn and his larger milieu will prove an indispensable source for all who wish to understand the genesis of liberal ideas in Russia. - Eli Nathans, Associate Professor, Department of History, The University of Western Ontario