A review by davidcoaker
October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miéville

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

A romantic, mournful and yet hopeful telling of the first socialist revolution in history. Expansive and expressive in its depth when it comes to the various factions vying for power in Russia and yet undoubtly human when it comes to not only the women and men at the forefront of the revolution but also of the everyday working class and peasants that fought and struggled for a new world to be born. You can see the character of all the various figures involved, whether it’s the stoic incompetent nepocrat Nicholas II or the larger-than-life prophetic Lenin. Whether the bumbling, tottering Kerensky or the charismatic Trotsky. Even though we know the tragic ending, the fact remains that for moments a new world was born and it can indeed be born again.