A question which occupies many people in the West, and not only historians,is the following: why did liberalism fail in Russia? Had there been no possibilityfor a gradual development towards a constitutional monarchy whichmany Western countries had shown, though perhaps over a prolonged periodof time?The author has chosen the life of a well-known lawyer, Vasilii Maklakov, toshow how one person has tried to realize and put into practice the road towardssuch a gradual development. Vasilii Alekseevich Maklakov was one of the foremostlawyers and politicians of pre-revolutionary Russia. A convinced liberalwho gave all his forces to set in motion a democratic development from 1904onwards. He ended his career as ambassador of the Provisional Government inParis where he played a significant role as unofficial leader and spokesman ofthe Russian emigration.Anthony Kröner has a degree in chemistry from Leyden University and a PhDin Russian history from Amsterdam University.His previous books are: ' The debate between Miliukov and Maklakov on thefate of Russian liberalism' and the widely acclaimed biography of the last commanderof the White armies in Russia ' The White Knight of the Black SeaThe life of General Peter Wrangel'.
