What is the author's style in Rabelais and His World by Mikhail Bakhtin?

The author writes this book from the perspective of a man who lived 1895-1975, born at the tail end of the 19th century yet living the majority of his life in the 20th century, and as a proud Russian. The author also writes as a literary historian—an expert, and a theorist, relatively speaking. He does not claim to be the most informed, nor best educated person in this subject matter.

The book is neatly organized. There are three introductory pieces, then seven chapters. These are followed by an index. Krystyna Pomorshka writes a Forward for English speaking readers. Particularly in North America, there are some cultural presumptions that do not make sense and the translator kindly explains these.