Scan barcode
A review by therearenobadbooks
Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia by Gregory Wallance
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This book was a surprise because it presents a lot of information but in a very fast-paced way. It tells us the highlights of the life of George Kennan since he was a teen wanting adventure up to his death.
232 pages, plus notes and bibliography.I read it two afternoons.
It doesn't go deep into one single event but scratches all to give us a general idea. For example, at one point we know he has visited the studio of the painter Albert Bierstadt and found his paintings delicate then quickly moves forward to the next step. These little bits as he touches here and there, connect to this personality or the next help the narrative move in History. It is a narrative of facts, in a journalistic style, possibly closer to what he did when he visited Russia.
These moments of his personal life and the time he took breaks from Russia helped to balance the rawness of the last 100 pages where he goes as a journalist to see the exile system for himself to write about it. It was a very interesting read teaching me about many things I had no idea of. It is not just raw. I love how we know he wrote love letters to his wife saying he kissed her heart.
One of my favorite parts is the description of him staying with people in a village for the night, then the culture shock of a gesture misunderstood, and the value of life at that time in that location.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, my opinions are my own and honest.
232 pages, plus notes and bibliography.I read it two afternoons.
It doesn't go deep into one single event but scratches all to give us a general idea. For example, at one point we know he has visited the studio of the painter Albert Bierstadt and found his paintings delicate then quickly moves forward to the next step. These little bits as he touches here and there, connect to this personality or the next help the narrative move in History. It is a narrative of facts, in a journalistic style, possibly closer to what he did when he visited Russia.
These moments of his personal life and the time he took breaks from Russia helped to balance the rawness of the last 100 pages where he goes as a journalist to see the exile system for himself to write about it. It was a very interesting read teaching me about many things I had no idea of. It is not just raw. I love how we know he wrote love letters to his wife saying he kissed her heart.
One of my favorite parts is the description of him staying with people in a village for the night, then the culture shock of a gesture misunderstood, and the value of life at that time in that location.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, my opinions are my own and honest.