What are the best fiction books to learn about the russian. The russian revolution, 19171945 by anthony dagostino, 2011. Discover the best historical russian fiction in best sellers. May 07, 2017 the narrative of the russian revolution is as urgent and strange as that of any novel, and october is the key political event of the 20th century.
I would, in addition, recommend simon sebag montefiores the romanovs. The best books on the russian revolution five books. It is a vain, frivolous and boastful book, lacking in judgment and selfknowledge but useful. 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. 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. By reading his diary entries one can delve into the atmosphere of those years as seen by the russian upper class. By 1920 the country was in desperate financial straits and more than 20 million russians had died. The best and first book on the russian revolution of 1917 was written in 1871. I chose this book because its a work of fiction, and fiction is sometimes better at giving.
Another suggestion is a fiction book, the white guard by mikhail bulgakov. 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. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the. In 1917, two revolutions transformed russia, and set in motion one of the biggest social and political upheavals of the twentieth century. Acclaimed fantasy author china mieville plunges us into the year the world was turned upside down the renowned fantasy and science fiction writer china mieville has long been inspired by the ideals of the russian revolution and here, on the centenary of the revolution, he provides his own distinctive take on its history. Please tell us more about six weeks in russia in 1919 there are only a couple of wellknown eyewitness accounts of the revolution.
The book is one of the most complete tellings of the russian revolution, but at over 900 pages, its a daunting tome. There is no schadenfreude here about the revolutions bloody aftermath, nor patronising talk of experiments that failed because they were doomed to fail. Ten days that shook the world by john reed, doctor zhivago by boris pasternak, history of the russian revolution by. The state and revolution penguin twentieth century classics. However, you might need some background reading in order to understand what the sides of the conflict in the book whites, reds, german army, ukrainian republicans were fighting for. The best books on the russian revolution london evening. Stories and poems from the russian revolution edited by boris dralyuk, published by pushkin press. His suggestions for further reading range over decades of writing on soviet subjects and cite classics, revisionist works, curiosities, and studies done during and since the gorbachev years. History of the russian revolution by leon trotsky nook book. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution. You may have learned about these events at school, but these books are anything but boring. Russian fantasy developed from the centuriesold traditions of slavic mythology and folklore. 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. This dream was the backdrop to my novel fear of mirrors, which i.
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. The story of the russian revolution by china mieville. I really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. Apr 21, 2005 within an overall narrative that provides a clear description of the 1917 revolution, he introduces several new approaches on its political history and the complexity of the october revolution. The best books on the russian revolution five books expert. The russian revolution, as seen through 12 historical novels this year tomorrow, to be exact marks a century since the execution of russias tsar, nicholas ii, and his family in 1918, following the russian revolution. Wade clears away many of the myths and misconceptions that have clouded studies of the period. My five best and the five worst books on the russian revolution. China mieville is an author of science fiction novels and the only. The russian revolution in 1917 was a monumental political and social transformation in russia, which brought down the autocratic monarchy. The russian revolution a new history by sean mcmeekin basic books. Carol mcgrath has an ma in creative writing from queens university belfast.
Revolution threatens and inna feldman is drawn into intrigue concerning rasputin and also a love triangle in a pageturning novel. Dec 11, 2016 i really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. A hundred years after the russian revolution, history, according to most. An instalove possessive alpha romance a man who knows what he wants book 156.
The russian revolution, 1917 by rex wade is a good one. Within an overall narrative that provides a clear description of the 1917 revolution, he introduces several new approaches on its political history and the complexity of the october revolution. 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. Rex wade presents an account of one of the pivotal events of modern history, combining his own long study of the revolution with the best of contemporary scholarship.
In the expert hands of translators pevear and volokhonsky, this bulgakov classic shines. They are available for purchase through our affiliate partner, the book depository, at low prices all of which include worldwide shipping. I read both trotskys book and reeds around the same time in college, and i couldnt help but remark how similar they seemed. The history of the russian revolution is not for the fainthearted. Sukhanov, a left menshevik hostile to lenin, was actually. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers. List of books and articles about russian revolution. Nicholas ii and the russian revolution by robert service. This bloody sunday was followed in succeeding months by a series of strikes, riots, assassinations, naval mutinies, and. Regardless of the readers view of the authors politics, there is no doubt that his analysis of the conditions leading up to the. 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. They have selected these books for their content, accessibility and affordability. Pages in category novels set in the russian revolution the following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. A new history recalibrates the villains of the russian revolution.
October the story of the russian revolution by china. Discover book depositorys huge selection of russian revolution books online. Como ele mesmo disse em entrevista, nao ha ficcao em october. Leon trotsky was a leader of the russian revolution in 1917 and is the author of my life, the history of the russian revolution, and the revolution betrayed. October, by the british author china mieville, is a gripping account of the russian revolution that offers the pleasures and rewards of a great novel the book has vividly drawn characters, high drama, suspense, and an irresistible narrative momentum that sweeps the reader along from the first page to the tragicbut not inevitable.
It was one of the great romantic endeavours of the twentieth century. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The bronze horseman by paullina simons, anna karenina by leo tolstoy, war and peace by leo tolstoy, doctor zhivago by boris. There is no schadenfreude here about the revolutions bloody aftermath, nor patronising talk of experiments that failed because they were doomed to. How lenin and the russian revolution changed literature. My five best and the five worst books on the russian. The narrative of the russian revolution is as urgent and strange as that of any novel, and october is the key political event of the 20th century. Top 10 books about the russian revolution the guardian. Its premise is that the perspectives of the post1945 period are not adequate to understand the international setting of the revolution in world war i, the great depression, and the rise of fascism. The first book depicts first world war, the russian revolution, and the struggle for womens suffrage. Science fiction and fantasy have been part of mainstream russian literature since the 19th century. In russian revolution, 19171945, author anthony dagostino discusses all these questions.
It is one of those onceinadecade texts that brings the past acutely into the present. Figes also has a condensed version titled revolutionary russia. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution of. This particular volume is really the second installment of pipess penetrating look at. A history, that looks at the russian revolution over the span of one hundred years, from 1891 to 1991. 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. This was a complex time, where there wasnt just 2 sides and describing it as clusterfuck is a serious understatement.
Jun 06, 2017 the russian revolution a new history by sean mcmeekin basic books. In it karl marx examined the experiences of the insurgents in seizing power in the face of bourgeois collapse, in establishing a. The bolsheviks sought to curb russias creative liberties almost immediately after they seized power, throwing some writers into exile and some into work camps ultimately changing the course of literature forever. A new history recalibrates the villains of the russian. The best books on the russian revolution, as recommended by author. Even best modern russian sciencific books about revolution and communism wasnt translated. This book provides a workable summary of all the events that went to making the russian revolution, and its aftermath, up to the end of nep and the ascendancy of stalin in the late 1920s. In february 1917, in the midst of bloody war, russia was still. A personal record by nn sukhanov this book was necessary reading for all early historians of the revolution.
His book is in some ways a more solid work, helped by several conversations with lenin and other bolsheviks. On the afternoon of july 4, 1917, thousands of soldiers, sailors and workers converged on a former. 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 russian revolution has been the subject of many exceptional novels, but the impact that the uprising itself had on literature is often overlooked. In this classic work, the author incorporates data from archives thatwere previously inaccessible not only to western but also to soviet historians, as well as. Red plenty is an account of the economic failure of soviet communism, utilizing both historical and fictional characters. It doesnt have a lot of detail on daytoday life, but it explicit discusses the working class and peasantry as political subjects in their own right rather than as the mere constituencies of thisorthat party, so its a good text for situating whatever you read about daily life in the broader political context. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the guardian. The russian revolution, 19171945 by anthony dagostino.
Simon sebag montefiores recommended reading on russia and. May be something like this and quiet flows the don. This is a concise introduction to the russian revolution from 1917 to 1945, that is, in the period prior to the cold war. Stories and poems from the russian revolution edited by boris dralyuk, published by pushkin press a selection of the best. 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. Its not quite a historical novel and its not quite an exposition. 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. The first part narrates how a rich schoolgirl, sashenka, joins the communist party just before the russian revolution. As such, it is thorough, despite its short length, but in its commitment to summary thoroughness, it sacrifices considerably in reading pleasure. The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. Through the russian revolution by albert rhys williams williams was already in petrograd when reed arrived and acted as a calming tutor to his wilder and more activist colleague. The russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes 82 times fall of giants by ken follett 76 times nicholas and alexandra by robert k. May 09, 2017 china mievilles contribution in october is to get away from ideological battles and go back to the dazzling reality of events.
There is no serious fiction books about russian revolution even in russian. The russian revolution is the culmination of forty years of research by noted historian richard pipes. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. 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. 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. 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.
Prime members enjoy free delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows, original audio series, and kindle books. The russian revolution had a decisive impact on the history of the twentieth century. The story of the russian revolution is published by verso. Aug 23, 2017 the best and first book on the russian revolution of 1917 was written in 1871.
Russian revolution books tagged russian revolution. At the turn of the century, the russian economy was growing by about 10% annually and its population had reached 150 million. List of books and articles about russian revolution online. In the russian language, fantasy, science fiction, horror and all other related genres are considered a part of a larger umbrella term, fantastika, roughly equivalent to speculative fiction, and are less divided than in the west. Fear of mirrors, tariq alis 1998 novel, traces the tragic history of communism in the 20th century no less. The best books to read on the russian revolution, a. In it karl marx examined the experiences of the insurgents in seizing power in the face of bourgeois collapse, in establishing.
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