Paul Dukes writes: In this second volume of Patrick Gordon’s Diary containing ‘curious tidings of himself, of his brothers in arms, and of Russia before the age of transformation’ (to quote again the great historian S.M. Soloviev), our hero continues his account of service in Warsaw and elsewhere in Poland before moving to Moscow in 1661 with Paul Menzies and others. He tells of the difficulties with officialdom in his early years and his more successful military activities, often in the company of fellow Scots. He also gives a full description of a mission to London, including meetings with Charles II. Dmitry Fedosov continues his magnificent edition of a vital historical source and a most entertaining narrative.

Patrick Gordon (1635-1699), born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was a Soldier of Fortune who became a Russian general under Tsar Peter I. He was a close friend and advisor to the Tsar. After his death in 1699, Gordon left detailed diary of his life and times, written in English.

Dmitry Fedosov CorrFRSE is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of World History at Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia. Dr Fedosov is an expert on medieval and early modern history of Russia, Scotland, and Scotland-Russia links from the Middle Ages to the present. He is also the co-founder and chairman of the Moscow Caledonian Club, established in 1994. Scotland, and Scotland-Russia links from the Middle Ages to the present. He is also the co-founder and chairman of the Moscow Caledonian Club, established in 1994.