Jan 29, 2019 jeff somers is an awardwinning writer who has authored nine novels, over 40 short stories, and writing without rules, a non fiction book about the business and craft of writing. A nice narrative history of the russian revolution in 1917. The definitive, singlevolume history of the russian revolution, from an. The novel describes a world of harmony and conformity within a united totalitarian state.
What are the best fiction books to learn about the russian. George orwell animal farm compared to russian revolution. Regardless of the readers view of the authors politics, there is no doubt that his analysis of the conditions leading up to the revolution. Revolution definition is the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course. The story of the russian revolution by china mieville west camel china mievilles fiction output.
My five best and the five worst books on the russian. In it karl marx examined the experiences of the insurgents in seizing power in the face of bourgeois collapse, in establishing a. At the turn of the century, the russian economy was growing by about 10% annually and its population had reached 150 million. We are a free multilingual dictionary that provides instant definitions from many respected reference resources such as the random house college dictionary, princeton wordnet, wiktionary, webster dictionary, u. Pipes explains that for 70 years prior to the 1990s. The first part narrates how a rich schoolgirl, sashenka, joins the communist party just before the russian revolution. The history of the russian revolution by leon trotsky is a threevolume book on the russian revolution of 1917. Rex wade presents a revised and expanded account of one of the pivotal events of modern history in this second edition. This was a complex time, where there wasnt just 2 sides and describing it as clusterfuck is a serious understatement.
The best known is probably john reeds ten days that shook the world, but ive gone with ransomes book because ransome is my man, and because whereas reeds book is a highly imaginative view of the 1917 revolution. Dec 11, 2016 i really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. The civil war in france was the official analysis of the defeated paris commune by the general council of the first international. Animal farm utilizes a straightforward tone and simple sentences, but some of the novellas vocabulary is quite complex. It is a vain, frivolous and boastful book, lacking in judgment and selfknowledge but useful. This selection of russian revolution books has been recommended by alpha history authors. By 1920 the country was in desperate financial straits and more than 20 million russians had died. My five best and the five worst books on the russian revolution. The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total.
Russian revolution summary smart history of russia. A revolution on a lunar penal colonyaided by a selfaware supercomputerprovides the framework for a story of a diverse group of men and women grappling with the everchanging definitions of humanity, technology, and free willthemes that resonate just as strongly. A new history recalibrates the villains of the russian. Now, following the collapse of the soviet regime and the opening of its archives, it is possible to step back and see the full picture. Mieville the last days of new paris marks the centenary of russias dual 1917 revolutions with this vivid and insightful study of the journey from the february revolution, which dispensed. The story of the russian revolution by china mieville. Ten days that shook the world by john reed, doctor zhivago by boris pasternak, history of the russian revolution by. The novel was first published as an english translation by gregory zilboorg in 1924 by e. Discover the best historical russian fiction in best sellers. The russian revolution totally reshaped society, and the writers of the day responded to it with a mixture of exhilaration, horror and hope, some changing their views over their lifetimes. The story of the russian revolution paperback politics. The first book depicts first world war, the russian revolution, and the struggle for womens suffrage. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the guardian. The author shows the revolution and the civil war as seen by russian imperial officers the whites, as opposed to bolsheviks, the reds in kiev.
My response to scary stuff has always been to hit the books. Simon sebag montefiores recommended reading on russia and its revolutions posted on 3rd february 2017 by sally campbell our nonfiction book of the month for february, the romanovs 161918 by simon sebag montefiore, is an exceptional example of this years reflections on the 100 years that have passed since the climactic russian. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The russian revolution of 1917 was a major event in history that changed the world. After the revolution the union of soviet socialist republics ussr was born, which eliminated poverty, established free medicine and highly subsidized housing, free education and job security.
It doesnt mean that one cant have wonderfully politically engaged art and. This book, by design, is meant to be a nonintimidating book of narrative. Our nonfiction book of the month for february, the romanovs 161918 by simon sebag montefiore, is an exceptional example of this years reflections on the 100 years that have passed since the climactic russian revolutions of 1917. Top ten books about the russian revolution historia magazine. Note that the harry potter series also qualifies as fantasy fiction, even though the books take. The best books on the russian revolution five books.
Russian revolution books meet your next favorite book. Covering the events of 1891 to 1924, figes book is a. The russian revolution is the culmination of forty years of research by noted historian richard pipes. Oct 30, 2017 the book is one of the most complete tellings of the russian revolution, but at over 900 pages, its a daunting tome. Please tell us more about six weeks in russia in 1919 there are only a couple of wellknown eyewitness accounts of the revolution. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the. Historical fiction is usually set in an era such as. Often, writers of fantasy fiction devote a series of books to the same world or characters. A novel retelling of the october revolution international socialist. The russian revolution is the collective term for the two revolutions that took place in 1917 in petrograd.
It is divided in three parts and only the first one is set at the time of the russian revolution, so i can recommend you only 33% of the book. Dystopian novels can challenge readers to think differently about current social and political climates, and in some instances can even inspire action. Nicholas ii and the russian revolution by robert service. China mieville is the multiawardwinning author of many works of fiction and nonfiction. Russian enormous cast of characters there is a glossary of personal names in the back. The best books on the russian revolution london evening. The february revolution overthrew the tsar, and the october revolution put the radical leftwing bolsheviks in power. I would, in addition, recommend simon sebag montefiores the romanovs. Russian enormous cast of characters there is a glossary of personal names in. The definitive, singlevolume history of the russian revolution, from an award winning scholar. This is a very fine book in some ways, i believe, the best work that china.
Jun 06, 2017 the russian revolution a new history by sean mcmeekin basic books. Sukhanov, a left menshevik hostile to lenin, was actually. About 900 pages long, this book is an imposing firsthand account of the russian revolution, remarkable for having been composed by one of its chief protagonistsproof, if need be, that leon trotsky was a formidable writer amongst other things. Russian revolution books tagged russian revolution. Early soviet authors from the 1920s, such as alexander belayev, grigory adamov, vladimir obruchev and alexey n. China mieville makes the russian revolution come alive in an excellent. A revolution on a lunar penal colonyaided by a selfaware supercomputerprovides the framework for a story of a diverse group of men and women grappling with the everchanging definitions of humanity, technology, and free willthemes that resonate just as strongly today as they did when the novel was first published.
Known as a leftwing activist and author of fantasy or what he himself calls weird fiction, mieville writes. An instalove possessive alpha romance a man who knows what he wants book 156. George orwell claimed that aldous huxleys 1931 brave new world must be partly. Voting circles andor spamming your own book to this list is highly discouraged. Though most of mievilles fiction can certainly be read and enjoyed merely for. May 09, 2017 this gripping account is a reenactment of the russian revolution, month by month, by an author who has used the fantasy genre to convey political messages. By reading his diary entries one can delve into the atmosphere of those years as seen by the russian upper class. This dream was the backdrop to my novel fear of mirrors, which i began. They have selected these books for their content, accessibility and affordability. My is a dystopian novel by russian writer yevgeny zamyatin, written 19201921. Como ele mesmo disse em entrevista, nao ha ficcao em october. It was first time in the history that the toiled masses had successfully established their own rule. Often, the plot involves magic or witchcraft and takes place on another planet or in another undiscovered dimension of this world. A history of the russian revolution, leon trotsky about 900 pages long, this book is an imposing firsthand account of the russian revolution, remarkable for having been composed by one of its chief protagonistsproof, if need be, that leon trotsky was a formidable writer amongst other things.
The birth of soviet science fiction was spurred by scientific revolution, industrialisation, mass education and other dramatic social changes that followed the russian revolution. A personal record by nn sukhanov this book was necessary reading for all early historians of the revolution. Browse through our ebooks while discovering great authors and exciting books in russian. The russian revolution had a decisive impact on the history of the twentieth century. Revolution definition of revolution by merriamwebster. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers. Outside russia, the dominant view of the october revolution is also. Trotsky finished writing it in russian in 1930 and was then translated into english by max eastman in 1932. Russian revolutionaries children read classic fiction, not marx books. I really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. Revolution threatens and inna feldman is drawn into intrigue concerning rasputin and also a love triangle in a pageturning novel. On the afternoon of july 4, 1917, thousands of soldiers, sailors and workers converged on a former.
A new history recalibrates the villains of the russian revolution. In three whys of the russian revolution, the eminent scholar of russian history, richard pipes, confronts the challenge of assessing the causes and course of the russian revolutions from a postcold war perspective. China mieville is the multiawardwinning author of many works of fiction and. Science fiction and fantasy have been part of mainstream russian literature since the 19th century. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution of. Bearing witness and finding meaning in the path of climate. A hundred years after the russian revolution, history, according to most. Top 10 books about the russian revolution the guardian. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. Russian fantasy developed from the centuriesold traditions of slavic mythology and folklore. Mar 10, 2017 revolution threatens and inna feldman is drawn into intrigue concerning rasputin and also a love triangle in a pageturning novel. On the centenary of the russian revolution, china mieville tells the. Some of the most famous examples of fantasy fiction are the chronicles of narnia, the lord of the rings, his dark materials which begins with the golden compass, and the wizard of earthsea collections.
The farm animals rise to power is based on the russian revolution. A history, that looks at the russian revolution over the span of one hundred years, from 1891 to 1991. For example, the 1962 novel a clockwork orange by anthony burgess is a social satire of behaviorism. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution.
It covers more than russia, but i included it in my list of russian historical fiction books because significant parts of all three books take place in russia. This particular volume is really the second installment of pipess penetrating look at. National library of medicine, dod dictionary of military and associated terms and more. Aug 23, 2017 the best and first book on the russian revolution of 1917 was written in 1871. They are available for purchase through our affiliate partner, the book depository, at low. Lenins electoral strategy focuses on lenins approach to electoral politics and what he and other marxists terms the institutions of bourgeois democracy, drawing on bolshevik debates and marx and engels own writings to show this to be a central feature of their revolutionary strategy.
The best books to read on the russian revolution, a. Figes also has a condensed version titled revolutionary russia. Stories and poems from the russian revolution edited by boris dralyuk, published by pushkin press. Apr 21, 2005 combining his own long term study of the revolution with the best of contemporary scholarship. Top ten books about the russian revolution historia. Dystopias are societies in cataclysmic decline, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression. That it was a mistake does not mean that rasputin opposed to the war was a better advisor. Russian revolutionaries children read classic fiction, not marx. Russian science fiction emerged in the mid19th century and rose to its golden age during the soviet era, both in cinema and literature, with writers like the strugatsky brothers, kir bulychov, and. Historical novels only, non fiction or novels with a contemporary settings will be removed. The best books on the russian revolution five books expert. Fantasy fiction is a genre of writing in which the plot could not happen in real life as we know it, at least. Feb 01, 2011 i read both trotskys book and reeds around the same time in college, and i couldnt help but remark how similar they seemed.
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