Bibliograph

A people's tragedy, the Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, Orlando Figes

Type

Label

A people's tragedy, the Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, Orlando Figes

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 862-894) and index

Illustrations

mapsillustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

A people's tragedy

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

38821665

Responsibility statement

Orlando Figes

Sub title

the Russian Revolution, 1891-1924

Summary

It is history on an epic yet human scale. Vast in scope, exhaustive in original research, written with passion, narrative skill, and human sympathy, A People's Tragedy is a profound account of the Russian Revolution for a new generation. Many consider the Russian Revolution to be the most significant event of the twentieth century. Distinguished scholar Orlando Figes presents a panorama of Russian society on the eve of that revolution, and then narrates the story of how these social forces were violently erased. Within the broad stokes of war and revolution are miniature histories of individuals, in which Figes follows the main players' fortunes as they saw their hopes die and their world crash into ruins. Unlike previous accounts that trace the origins of the revolution to overreaching political forces and ideals, Figes argues that the failure of democracy in 1917 was deeply rooted in Russian culture and social history and that what had started as a people's revolution contained the seeds of its degeneration into violence and dictatorship. A People's Tragedy is a masterful and original synthesis by a mature scholar, presented in a compelling and accessibly human narrative

Table Of Contents

Illustrations -- Preface -- Glossary -- Notes on dates -- Maps -- Part one. Russian under the old regime: Dynasty ; Unstable pillars ; Icons and cockroaches ; Red Ink -- Part two. Crisis of authority (1891-1917): First blood ; Last hopes ; War on three fronts -- Part three. Russia in revolution (February 1917-March 1918): Glorious February ; Freest country in the world ; Agony of the provisional government ; Lenin's revolution -- Part four. Civil war and the making of the Soviet system (1918-24): Last dreams of the old world -- Revolution goes to war -- New regime triumphant -- Defeat in victory -- Deaths and departures -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index

Classification