“Kiev lay in the heart of the Jewish Pale of Settlement but until the revolution of February 1917 only restricted numbers of privileged Jews had the legal right to settle there. Nevertheless, the town also became a magnet for the impoverished Jewish masses seeking to escape the poverty of shtetl life. This compelling and well-researched monograph highlights the dual character of the town for its Jewish inhabitants—on the one hand the home of a well-established and culturally productive Jewish community, on the other the scene of constant persecution and expulsion. It is essential reading for all those interested in the evolution of Jewish life in the Tsarist Empire and in the modern world.”