Russia in 1919


Read by Expatriate

(4.6 stars; 30 reviews)

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: On August 27, 1914, in London, I made this note in a memorandum book: "Met Arthur Ransome at_____'s; discussed a book on the Russian's relation to the war in the light of psychological background--folklore." The book was not written but the idea that instinctively came to him pervades his every utterance on things Russian. The versatile man who commands more than respect as the biographer of Poe and Wilde; as the (translator of and commentator on Remy de Gourmont; as a folklorist, has shown himself to be consecrated to the truth. The document that Mr. Ransome hurried out of Russia in the early days of the Soviet government (printed in the New Republic and then widely circulated as a pamphlet), was the first notable appeal from a non-Russian to the American people for fair play in a crisis understood then even less than now. The British Who's Who--that Almanach de Gotha of people who do things or choose their parents wisely--tells us that Mr. Ransome's recreations are "walking, smoking, fairy stories." It is, perhaps, his intimacy with the last named that enables him to distinguish between myth and fact and that makes his activity as an observer and recorder so valuable in a day of bewilderment and betrayal. - Summary by B. W. Huebsch (4 hr 15 min)

Chapters

Prefatory Notes 8:03 Read by Expatriate
To Petrograd 12:49 Read by Expatriate
Smolni 7:39 Read by Expatriate
Petrograd to Moscow 5:18 Read by Expatriate
First Days in Moscow 20:15 Read by Expatriate
The Executive Committee on the Reply to the Prinkipo Proposal 21:53 Read by Expatriate
Kamenev and the Moscow Soviet 7:24 Read by Expatriate
An Ex-Capitalist 9:11 Read by Expatriate
A Theorist of Revolution 5:15 Read by Expatriate
Effects of Isolation 3:17 Read by Expatriate
An Evening At the Opera 7:26 Read by Expatriate
The Committee of State Constructions 13:04 Read by Expatriate
The Executive Committee & the Terror 9:27 Read by Expatriate
Notes of Conversations With Lenin 7:20 Read by Expatriate
The Supreme Council of Public Economy 9:11 Read by Expatriate
The Race With Ruin 7:03 Read by Expatriate
A Play of Chekhov 4:07 Read by Expatriate
The Centro-Textile 8:17 Read by Expatriate
Modification in the Agrarian Programme 2:28 Read by Expatriate
Foreign Trade & Munitions of War 3:26 Read by Expatriate
The Proposed Delegation From Berne 5:19 Read by Expatriate
The Executive Committee on the Rival Parties 10:28 Read by Expatriate
Commissariat of Labour 9:50 Read by Expatriate
Education 11:03 Read by Expatriate
A Bolshevik Fellow of the Royal Society 2:43 Read by Expatriate
Digression 2:04 Read by Expatriate
The Opposition 20:33 Read by Expatriate
The Third International 11:43 Read by Expatriate
Last Talk With Lenin 6:53 Read by Expatriate
The Journey Out 2:03 Read by Expatriate

Reviews


(4 stars)

A very positive account of the Bolsheviks, probably written to ensure continued access to Bolshevik leaders. Lots of interesting details , fortunately in short chapters so one does not get bogged down. Clearly read by Expatriate. Worth the quick read if you are interested in this period of history.

great narration, great book


(5 stars)

I've been wanting to learn more about the history of the Russian revolution, and what better way than with a first hand account as an outsider journalist. I loved it, each chapter ended sooner than I wanted


(5 stars)

fantastic insight into the Russia of the time. amazing access to some of the key architects or conspirators if you will all of the revolution

very interesting


(4 stars)

very interesting snapshot of a tumultuous time. well read.


(5 stars)

Well read, and a fascinating look at post-Revolution Russia.