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journeyingjeff's review against another edition
4.0
Pipes does a masterful job of explaining the causes and describing the events of the Russian Revolution. At over 800 pages, the book provides lots of detail, but it may have been a bit much for someone who has only a passing familiarity with the events and personalities. I thought the chapter about the Russian peasantry was a fascinating analysis and the chapter about the execution of the Russian royal family was excellent narrative history. A reader who is motivated to learn about this important event will truly enjoy this book.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
4.0
Ah... you know that limerick by Robert Conquest, the one that goes kinda like this:
There was an old bastard named LeninYeah, that's this book.
Who did two or three million men in.
That's a lot to have done in
But where he did one in
That old bastard Stalin did ten in.
alexoc4's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5 stars- great narrative, with a different perspective, but wow it just was wayyyy too long. Interesting book on an interesting topic, though.
alismcg's review
5.0
This one has taken me some time to get through. At the expiration of my first 2 week borrow — via Libby — I determined to purchase the paberback volume (so much easier to forage within the notes while reading) ... COVID19 demanded I sit through another HOLD on Libby.
So worth what time it has taken to work my way through the volume. I don’t believe I have read anything as emotionally ‘weighty’ as this political history, not Westover’s “Educated” or even Applebaum’s volumes have managed to leave as deep and indelible an impression upon me.
“The victims usually went to the execution without resisting. What they went through cannot be imagined even approximately...Most of the victims usually requested a chance to say goodbye; and because there was no one else, they embraced and kissed their executioners.”
Pipes’ has packed his tome tight with Russian history... and eye witness accounts - incredibly researched. As often as one takes him up and attempts to immerse oneself one discovers more and more and still even more material to wade through.
Take him up then if you dare.... but trust that you may never think of Nicholas Romanov, or Lenin or Trotsky or the Russian people as once you did or be the same yourself once that last page has turned.
So worth what time it has taken to work my way through the volume. I don’t believe I have read anything as emotionally ‘weighty’ as this political history, not Westover’s “Educated” or even Applebaum’s volumes have managed to leave as deep and indelible an impression upon me.
“The victims usually went to the execution without resisting. What they went through cannot be imagined even approximately...Most of the victims usually requested a chance to say goodbye; and because there was no one else, they embraced and kissed their executioners.”
Pipes’ has packed his tome tight with Russian history... and eye witness accounts - incredibly researched. As often as one takes him up and attempts to immerse oneself one discovers more and more and still even more material to wade through.
Take him up then if you dare.... but trust that you may never think of Nicholas Romanov, or Lenin or Trotsky or the Russian people as once you did or be the same yourself once that last page has turned.
savshu's review
challenging
slow-paced
4.0
Very dense, in-depth look at the events of the Russian Revolution from ~1900 to 1930s. Conservative viewpoint. Wouldn't recommend for a casual reader but would recommend if you really want to learn all about the actors and events.
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