# A Review of Robert Service's 'The August Coup' Recounts the USSR's Boozy Final Days

Robert Service's new book, reviewed in The Guardian, offers a fresh account of the August 1991 Soviet coup attempt, emphasizing the chaotic and alcohol-fueled atmosphere among the plotters. The review highlights how the failed coup accelerated the Soviet Union's collapse. It matters as a cultural lens on a pivotal historical moment through personal and anecdotal detail.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [The Guardian Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/aug/03/the-august-coup-by-robert-service-review-the-drink-soaked-collapse-of-the-soviet-union) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:43 GMT