The Russian Revolution

A New History

By: Sean McMeekin

Narrated by: Pete Larkin

From an award-winning scholar comes this definitive, single-volume history that illuminates the tensions and transformations of the Russian Revolution.

In The Russian Revolution, acclaimed historian Sean McMeekin traces the events which ended Romanov rule, ushered the Bolsheviks into power, and introduced Communism to the world. Between 1917 and 1922, Russia underwent a complete and irreversible transformation.

Taking advantage of the collapse of the Tsarist regime in the middle of World War I, the Bolsheviks staged a hostile takeover of the Russian Imperial Army, promoting mutinies and mass desertions of men in order to fulfill Lenin's program of turning the "imperialist war" into civil war. By the time the Bolsheviks had snuffed out the last resistance five years later, over 20 million people had died, and the Russian economy had collapsed so completely that Communism had to be temporarily abandoned. Still, Bolshevik rule was secure, owing to the new regime's monopoly on force, enabled by illicit arms deals signed with capitalist neighbors such as Germany and Sweden who sought to benefit-politically and economically-from the revolutionary chaos in Russia.

Drawing on scores of previously untapped files from Russian archives and a range of other repositories in Europe, Turkey, and the United States, McMeekin delivers exciting, groundbreaking research about this turbulent era. The first comprehensive history of these momentous events in two decades, The Russian Revolution combines cutting-edge scholarship and a fast-paced narrative to shed new light on one of the most significant turning points of the 20th century.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Sean McMeekin (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Great wealth of info.

Excellent wealth of information. A clear anti communist bias from the writer. Nonetheless covers all major details of transition from monarchy to communism thoroughly.

A skeptical account of the Russian Revolution

This book is a lively account of the Russian revolution. Much of it is from the point of you diplomacy and high policy. The sociological discussion and discussion of the organization of the political parties is not the emphasis here; it is more “high politics”, but well done and thorough. Neither Stalinists no Trotskyist will like this account, but it is equally distant from the outlook of cold warriors. The author is skeptical about the political machinations of all sides, and for this, I commend him.

Enlightening

With so much of the Russian Revolution/history still shrouded in mythos - largely due to questionable information, this book definitely helped shed some light on it.

Very informative.

This book dispelled a lot of presumptions I had about the fall of the Czar and the rise of Soviet Communism. It’s a really sad story but important to be knowledgeable of.

Incredible Book

An unbiased account of one of the most controversial and important events of the last century.

Audio version challenging with Russian names

I think I might have been better off reading this in print version. The story is compelling and very informative, but I struggled somewhat with keeping track of all the Russian characters names in the audio version.

must read

This book should be read by all would be Champaign Socialists who think that communism and socialism could work.

It was OK at best.

the narrator wasn't terrible, though he always had a hint of smug condescension in his voice. the story was very thorough, just not told in an interesting way. that's just my opinion, as everyone holds different standards to what is and isn't interesting. An example would be how little attention that was given to the murders of the royal family. All and all, it was simply "ok" at best.

Lacking

Though the author takes time and care in his retelling of details such as names and dates, a as he goes over in the introduction of the book I feel it is lacking detail in areas much more important to history than the exact when and exact spelling of name. Such as stated motives, reasoning for actions that altered history, offensive or not. Elaborations on events such as Pogroms and anti Jewish sentiment were brushed over as if an unidentified and mysterious weather phenomenon. I was hoping for more insight and less repetition of names and exact dates, when the details of which were not explored.

Terrific History of the Russian Revolution

McKeen gives a wonderful history of the Russian revolutions of 1917. Shows how Lenin received massive help from the Germans who were at war with Russia.