"A novel exploring the inner workings of [Putin's] government that has captivated France...has become a popular guide for understanding [his] motives." –
New York Times "Empoli is a skilled storyteller and with such rich material to hand it is unsurprising that [
The Wizard of the Kremlin] is compelling and convincing, fully deserving of its bestseller status...Its literary achievement elevates the novel above a reductive political analysis of the workings of the Kremlin, bringing it at times closer to Dostoevsky than an academic article or an op-ed." –
New Statesman "A must-read for anyone wondering what Russian President Vladimir Putin is up to and what the Russian people have had to go through during his tenure...this powerful book...is a page-turner." –
Foreign Policy "Part fiction and part freewheeling analysis, an insider's look at the world of Vladimir Putin...an epic monologue...authoritative." –
Kirkus Reviews "A fictional wandering through the dark corridors of the Kremlin." –
The Times (UK), The Biggest Books of the Season
"Putin and how, despite all his failures, he has continued to maintain his hold over Russia makes for fascinating subject-matter...an entertaining novel...engaging." –
Complete Review