The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin

**Named one of the Economist 'Best Books of the Year So Far' May 2026**An extraordinary first-hand account of Russia’s descent into totalitarianism, paranoia and madness. Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times, moved to Russia in the chaotic final years of President Yeltsin's rule.Twenty-five years later, The Times pulled him out of Russia over concerns for his security following his arrest in Moscow at a protest against the war in Ukraine.From the “wild” 1990s in Moscow to narrowly escaping death under fire in Ukraine, The Descent is a unique and personal diary of how Russia spiraled into violent insanity.Bennetts witnessed the often-terrifying events in Russia up close, observing how the Kremlin's ubiquitous propaganda warped minds and fomented hatred of Putin's foes, at home and abroad, even among people close to him.After leaving Russia, he travelled in war-torn Ukraine, where he came face-to-face with the appalling consequences of this madness.Benn