Interest in the northern areas, and in the North in general, is rising unceasingly today. The North is an important topic in both Russia and Norway: not only in a political and geographical sense, but also culturally, regarding its bearing on the population's mentality and temperament. The book which is hereby presented to the reader is a collection of articles by Russian and Norwegian historians, who have been working together on a joint research project called "Neighbourly Asymmetry: Norway and Russia 1814-2014". The purpose of this project has been to study historical relations between Norway and Russia, and to stimulate the growth of scientific and educational collaboration between the two countries. The book contains articles, written in English and Russian, in which the authors study the multi-faceted North in its cultural, political and geographical dimensions, describing different constructions of "northernness" and demonstrating its significance in framing the national Russian and Norwegian identity.