Oct 16, 2014 fictionwriting in russia has always been serious business. I would, in addition, recommend simon sebag montefiores the romanovs. Figes also has a condensed version titled revolutionary russia. Stories and poems from the russian revolution edited by boris dralyuk, published by pushkin press. Ayn rand, russianborn american writer whose commercially successful novels promoting individualism and laissezfaire capitalism were influential among conservatives and libertarians.
But historian douglas smith, in his magnificently researched new book. The russian revolution old major napoleon announces that the windmill was sabotaged by snowball all animals thought to be a part of the treason are executed parallel to the conspiracy around trotsky and his plot to. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Please tell us more about six weeks in russia in 1919 there are only a couple of wellknown eyewitness accounts of the revolution. Stories and poems from the russian revolution is a collection of literary responses to one of the most cataclysmic events in modern world history, which exposes the immense conflictedness and doubt, conviction and hope, pessimism and optimism which political events provoked among contemporary writers sometimes at the same. In short, manor farm is a model of russia, and old major, snowball, and napoleon represent. 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. How lenins love of literature shaped the russian revolution.
The russian revolution of 1917 was in fact not one but two revolutions. Below is our selection of the best books on the revolution from bourgeois comedy. China mieville is an author of science fiction novels and the only. In a society without freedom, the great writers were the truthtellers, the voice of the voiceless, and the conscience of a nationa second government, as alexander solzhenitsyn once put it. The russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes 82 times fall of giants by ken follett 76 times nicholas and alexandra by robert k. The first book depicts first world war, the russian revolution, and the struggle for womens suffrage. The story of the russian revolution by china mieville. 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. Animal farm may not be a literal interpretation of the russian revolution. The first part narrates how a rich schoolgirl, sashenka, joins the communist party just before the russian revolution.
Each of the ten works of fiction below is an acknowledged classic of russian literature. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Amor towles goodreads author shelved 3 times as russian historical fiction avg rating 4. Simon sebag montefiores recommended reading on russia and. On the centenary of the russian revolution, china mieville tells the extraordinary. Popular russian historical fiction books showing 7 of 37 a gentleman in moscow paperback by.
Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. This dream was the backdrop to my novel fear of mirrors, which i. Russian revolution books tagged russian revolution. 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.
Though most of mievilles fiction can certainly be read and enjoyed merely. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis. There are, in fact, separate chapters for each month from february to october, 1917. Fictionwriting in russia has always been serious business. The bolshevik revolution refers to the second revolution that occurred in russia in october 1917 led by lenin and the bolshevik party. The revolution of 1917 is a revolution of trains, writes the author, whose final perspective, in this book, is from the liberated train, in libertys dim light. Mar 10, 2017 revolution threatens and inna feldman is drawn into intrigue concerning rasputin and also a love triangle in a pageturning novel. The book was an intriguing adventure yet a well researched fictional account of both life for a young jewish man in early 1900s new york city, and the events leading to the russian revolution. The russian revolution was a rebellion that consisted of two revolts. Mar 25, 2017 the books success was celebrated by the entry of a new word into the russian lexicon. It is one of those onceinadecade texts that brings the past acutely into the present.
Science fiction and fantasy have been part of mainstream russian literature since the 19th century. 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 book, by design, is meant to be a nonintimidating book of narrative. Dec 11, 2016 i really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. It serves as the most vital and inspiring record of the russian revolution to date. The books success was celebrated by the entry of a new word into the russian lexicon. When the tsarist regime was overthrown in the russian revolution of 1917, her family moved to crimea, where she finished high school. If the communist house in foundation pit is fiction, the house of. The first part narrates how a rich schoolgirl, sashenka, joins. A history, that looks at the russian revolution over the span of one hundred years, from 1891 to.
Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the. Jun 26, 2009 the book was an intriguing adventure yet a well researched fictional account of both life for a young jewish man in early 1900s new york city, and the events leading to the russian revolution. There are, in fact, separate chapters for each month from february to october. As an account of a revolution, given by one of its chief actors, it stands unique in world literature.
The book is also a thinly disguised retelling of the 1917 russian revolution from orwells pointofview. Jones is modeled on tsar nicholas ii 18681918, the last russian emperor. In the expert hands of translators pevear and volokhonsky, this bulgakov classic shines. A hundred years after the russian revolution, history, according to. The russian revolution a new history by sean mcmeekin basic books. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution. Ten days that shook the world by john reed, doctor zhivago by boris pasternak, history of the russian revolution by. Leon trotsky, from history of the russian revolution regarded by many as among the most powerful works of history ever written, this book offers an unparalleled account of one of the most pivotal and hotly debated events in world history. Sukhanov, a left menshevik hostile to lenin, was actually. Many of the characters and events of orwells novel parallel those of the russian revolution. Dystopian novels can challenge readers to think differently about current social and political climates, and in some instances can even inspire action.
Discover the best historical russian fiction in best sellers. The past year has prompted a predictable flurry of sovietthemed activity to mark the. 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. For 303 years the russian tsar came from the house of romanov. I really dont understand why would you want to learn of russian revolution and civil war from a fiction book. The book is one of the most complete tellings of the russian revolution, but at over 900 pages, its a daunting tome. List of books and articles about russian revolution. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. On the afternoon of july 4, 1917, thousands of soldiers, sailors and workers converged on a former. The best books on the russian revolution five books expert. The best books on the russian revolution five books.
This book reveals, from the perspective of one of its central actors, the russian revolution s profoundly democratic, emancipatory character. The best books to read on the russian revolution, a. This novel looks at three families, of jewish, russian and. Dystopias are societies in cataclysmic decline, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression.
It was so beautifully written that while reading, i felt as if i had gone back in time. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. 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. Pages in category novels set in the russian revolution the following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. Revolution threatens and inna feldman is drawn into intrigue concerning rasputin and also a love triangle in a pageturning novel. In short, manor farm is a model of russia, and old major, snowball, and napoleon represent the dominant figures of the russian revolution. Top 10 books about the russian revolution the guardian. China mieville makes the russian revolution come alive in an excellent. Although the february revolution began on march 8 according to our calendar, it was february 23 on the russian julian calendar. The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total.
History of the russian revolution by leon trotsky nook book. Because of this, the book was rejected by several publishers on the grounds that it was too controversial to publish at a time when the soviets were at war with germany the wartime enemy of england. One revolt was in february 1917, and the other was in october 1917. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. What are the best fiction books to learn about the russian.
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. Russian revolution 1917 score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. How collective farming was established in the ussr. One of orwells goals in writing animal farm was to portray the russian or bolshevik revolution of 1917 as one that resulted in a government more oppressive, totalitarian, and deadly than the one it overthrew. 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. Russian fantasy developed from the centuriesold traditions of slavic mythology and folklore. Top ten books about the russian revolution historia. I read both trotskys book and reeds around the same time in college, and i couldnt help but remark how similar they seemed. Sometimes the bolshevik revolution is referred to as the october revolution. Originally published in three parts, trotskys masterpiece is collected here in a single volume. Ten days that shook the world by john reed, doctor zhivago by. A history, that looks at the russian revolution over the span of one hundred years, from 1891 to 1991. 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.
I should think, for scholarly specialists who will find few facts new to them. A nice narrative history of the russian revolution in 1917. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. What are the best nonfiction books on russian revolution of. Sep 15, 2017 10 fictional books about real revolutions, because sometimes fiction is the best source of truth. Sunscreens for babies kids sunglasses sunscreens for kids. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the guardian. She returned to russia in 1921 and then moved to the united states in 1926. A personal record by nn sukhanov this book was necessary reading for all early historians of the revolution. 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.
Regardless of the readers view of the authors politics, there is no doubt that his analysis of the conditions leading up to the revolution. A new history recalibrates the villains of the russian. This was a complex time, where there wasnt just 2 sides and describing it as clusterfuck is a serious understatement. 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. 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 russian revolution had a decisive impact on the history of the twentieth century. This bloody sunday was followed in succeeding months by a series of strikes, riots, assassinations, naval mutinies, and. The best books on the russian revolution, as recommended by author roland. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers.
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