A review by leighannsherwin
Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport

5.0

All I can say about this book is wow. A vivid account of the Russian Revolution told through the eyes of various foreigners in the capital city of Petrograd, AKA St. Petersburg. Told in three parts, the largest being the February revolution, then the July days and finally the October revolution the book takes place entirely in 1917. The stories put the reader front and centre on the streets of Petrograd. You feel the fear, the cold, the hunger, the sense of hope that came after the first revolution and then the sadness and despair that slowly descended over the city as the Bolsheviks took over. I found myself becoming attached to the various characters, from reporter Florence Harper and her photographer Donald Thompson who became favourites of mine, I was sad to see them leave after the July days and even more disappointed that Ms Harper seemingly vanished to history after the war. Then there were the diplomats George Buchanan of England who despite gun battles and dangers insisted on going for morning strolls and was often greeted with cheers as he walked, people halt g gun fights to let him pass. And let's not forget American ambassador Francis and his servant Phillip Jordan who you couldn't help but love. Jordon affectionately known as Phil was an African American, and loved the adventure and excitement surrounding the city and his and the ambassadors letters home are a source of both information and some amusement. By the time the October revolution arrives while my favourite duo Harper and Thompson had left a new duo, the famous John Reed and his wife Louise Bryant arrived. I didn't much care for them and even though they became the most famous and celebrated journalists of the revolution mostly because they took the side of Lenin and his ilk. Of all the revolution books I've read this is the first real look at the actual populace of Russia. Usually I've only read books about the royals but this time I felt like I had a front row to what really happened in Russia in 1917. From a celebration on International Women's Day that turned bloody to a Soviet takeover that would change Russia and the world forever, this book should be read by anyone with an interest in the 1917 Russian Revolutions.