From Yeltsin to Putin and Back: The view from the wings

This remarkable memoir pulls back the curtain on Boris Yeltsin—the man behind the presidency — through the eyes of his former son-in-law, Alexey Dyachenko. Offering a rare perspective from inside Russia’s First Family, Dyachenko takes readers beyond politics and headlines, revealing the human side of a leader often obscured by myth and stereotype. With candour, warmth, and humour, he recounts both historic moments on the world stage and the private realities of life under relentless public scrutiny. From state visits and global encounters to family dinners and quiet reflections, the narrative explores themes of resilience, identity, and personal growth in the shadow of immense power. This is not a political memoir, but an intimate portrait of Boris Yeltsin as husband, father, and grandfather — told openly and honestly by someone who lived within the inner circle. For the first time, we glimpse the man as his family knew him: flawed, resilient, deeply human.