I read this book for the European
Reading Challenge 2019.
Revolutionary
Russia, 1891-1991: A History - Orlando Figes
I eagerly snapped this history up at a UBS because I
found fascinating the author’s A
People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924 and Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of
Russia. Both books provide interesting information while the writer’s enthusiasm
for the subject is infectious. The reader walks away wondering how a country so
poorly lead, so economically troubled, so socially roiled could achieve so much
in the sciences and humanities.
Unfortunately, I found this book not nearly so smoothly written
or stirring as those two books. It is concise. But its concision sometimes
leads to confusion. I didn’t really comprehend what happened in that eventful
and murky period of early and mid-1917 when Kerensky was trying to make the
Provisional Government work. Also the concision meant that Soviet and Comintern
participation in the Nationalist Revolution in China was left out completely.
On the other hand, the treatment of post-Patriotic War
period had some new material for me. Overall, it would do well enough for a
grad student who needs are quick overview. Also worthwhile for the general
reader who doesn’t need a lot of detail.
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