oliviareallylovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
3.5
The revolutionary energy is conveyed very well, makes you want to have been there in the action. Might require a base knowledge or at least interest in revolutionary theory and the broader timeline of the Russian revolution to get the most out of this extremely detailed account of the political debates, party dynamics, and power shifts of these few days in November 1917.
carlandlouise's review against another edition
5.0
the russian revolution is something i knew almost nothing about prior to reading this book. i wish my teachers in history class had introduced me to this book earlier, i would have made a much better student.
what can i say about the content? it is an eye witness account of the revolution by a very skilled journalist -- it cannot get much better than this.
what can i say about the content? it is an eye witness account of the revolution by a very skilled journalist -- it cannot get much better than this.
shonac's review against another edition
4.0
A thrilling contemporary source written 1 year after living through the October revolution. Reed was an excellent journalist and prose writer - this book transports you to revolutionary Petrograd as you live the Bolshevik insurection with him, just short of 100 years down the line.
zachbrumaire's review against another edition
5.0
excellent, joyous, critical, hilarious, & haunting.
alexgsmith's review against another edition
I’m not quite sure why I keep reading about the Russian Revolution, but I think it has something to do with it representing the possibility of change. It’s proof that things that seem fixed, things to which we may otherwise imagine no alternative, can be completely changed. I think that’s incredibly empowering, and being reminded of such possibility is important in many ways.
This is a first-hand account of the October Revolution. While there is some background and explanation of key political parties and organisations, I wouldn’t recommend this as a historical introduction. That’s not really the point here though; this is about capturing the energy in the room as Soviet factions debate, the atmosphere on the streets as counter-revolution approaches Petrograd, the sense that every day was new, that it could be revolutionary; I think it succeeds in that respect.
This is a first-hand account of the October Revolution. While there is some background and explanation of key political parties and organisations, I wouldn’t recommend this as a historical introduction. That’s not really the point here though; this is about capturing the energy in the room as Soviet factions debate, the atmosphere on the streets as counter-revolution approaches Petrograd, the sense that every day was new, that it could be revolutionary; I think it succeeds in that respect.
The only reason for Bolshevik success lay in their accomplishing the vast and simple desires of the most profound strata of the people, calling them to the work of tearing down and destroying the old, and afterwards, in the smoke of falling ruins, cooperating with them to erect the framework of the new…
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
This book was published in 1919 by John Reed, an American journalist who was in Russia during the October Revolution in 1917. The first revolution, in February, resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of the Provisional Government headed by Alexander Kerensky. Reed is able to chronicle both the conditions in Russia and the mood of its people that ultimately led to the fall of the Provisional Government, the assault on the Winter Palace where the counter-revolutionary Whites were defeated by the Bolsheviks, and the eventual triumph of V.I. Lenin. Reed combines his personal observations, the speeches and remarks of the leaders of the various political factions in Russia during this pivotal period, and the comments and reactions of ordinary Russian men and women who were caught up in and then overwhelmed by the great flood of events surrounding them.
j_ax2's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
2.0
I really wanted to like it but it’s not good as an audiobook. I need to read the actual book and it’ll probably be a bit more coherent.
lydiak's review against another edition
Very good book but I needed to actually buy a copy instead of borrow from the library because I need to highlight and takes notes given the very dense topic.
artemisgt's review against another edition
4.0
Great historical retelling, but the introduction in the Penguin Classics edition was the opposite of Reed's bias lol. I think that dude might hate Communists.