"This book provides an important new look at imperial policy in southern Ukraine in the first half of the nineteenth century, forthrightly characterizing Russian actions as colonialism comparable to that of other European states. John R. Staples's careful and detailed scholarship provides us with a complex picture of an important part of Ukraine's history." --Susan Smith-Peter, Professor of History, College of Staten Island, CUNY "John R. Staples has written a superb microhistory with his study of Johann Cornies. Through this biographical sketch, Staples demonstrates how the life and times of one individual say a great deal about Imperial Russia's colonial policy and Ukrainian identity formation in the nineteenth century. Deeply researched and engagingly written, this work will reward readers from across the disciplines." --Leonard G.

Friesen, Professor of History, Wilfrid Laurier University "This thoughtful book is worthy of its hero. Johann Cornies's biography, presented by John R. Staples, is a carefully studied story of the struggles, successes, and accomplishments of a person who built himself and the world around him. This book is a great scholarly reflection on a fascinating period of history that Mennonites preserve and cherish in their memory and myths." --Nataliya Venger, Professor of World History, Dnipro National University, and Visiting Scholar, University of Winnipeg "Using the example of Johann Cornies, John R. Staples presents a striking portrait of how Mennonites contributed to imperial Russia's colonial project in southern Ukraine. Staples demonstrates how, through economic, political, and religious engagement and interpersonal relations with key figures in the imperial bureaucracy, Cornies both shaped and was shaped by the building of the Russian Empire." --Aileen Friesen, Associate Professor of History and Co-director of the Centre for Transnational Mennonite Studies, University of Winnipeg "There is much that is new in Staples's retelling of Cornies's story as he presents a coherent narrative of his life, revisiting his extensive reforms and relations with Russian officials.

" --James Urry, Mennonite Quarterly Review.