Russia in Flames: War, Revolution, Civil War, 1914 - 1921

The Russian Revolution of 1917, which resulted in the creation of the Soviet Union, is a pivotal moment in world history. Laura Engelstein's book "Russia in Flames" explores the seven years of chaos and violence that followed the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, including the war, revolutionary upheaval, and civil strife. The struggle for power involved the broad masses of the population and every corner of the empire, and the revolution and civil war revealed democratic yearnings. However, the Bolshevik triumph led to the ruthless repression of all opposition, creating a new society and a new form of power.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 856 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Russian Revolution of 1917, which marked the end of the Romanov dynasty and the establishment of the world's first socialist state, is a pivotal moment in global history. Despite passing a century since these events, there is still ongoing debate about whether they can be considered a landmark in the liberation of humanity from past oppression or a crime and a disaster, as historian E. H. Carr once suggested. Certain aspects are evident. Following the collapse of the three-hundred-year-old Romanov dynasty during the First World War, Russia found itself in a state of crisis, with one interim government succeeding another in the vacuum left by the imperial collapse. In this comprehensive and sweeping new account, Laura Engelstein delves into the seven years of turmoil surrounding 1917, encompassing the war, the revolutionary upheaval, and the civil strife it provoked. These years were characterized by breakdown, brutal violence, and decisive turning points in February and October. As Engelstein convincingly demonstrates, the struggle for power involved not only civil society and party leaders but also the broad masses of the population and every corner of the vast empire, extending far beyond Moscow and Petrograd. However, alongside the bloodshed that the revolution and civil war unleashed, they also revealed democratic yearnings, albeit with significant differences in conceptions of what constituted democracy. Into the void created by the Romanov collapse rushed long-suppressed hopes and dreams about social justice and equality. Yet, any potential experiment in self-rule was tragically cut short by the October Revolution. Under the banner of genuine democracy, and despite overwhelming odds, the Bolsheviks triumphed, resulting in the ruthless suppression of all opposition. The Bolsheviks were able to capitalize on the social breakdown caused by the war and institutionalize their power, laying the foundation for the Soviet Union.

Weight: 992g
Dimension: 142 x 210 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190931506