ComradeOm
22nd October 2009, 14:37
This hopefully is the first of many bibliographies forthcoming from RevLeft users on revolutionary events in history. Future bibliographies will include the Kronstadt Rebellion, the Spanish Revolution and Civil War, and the Chinese Revolution/Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Thanks to ComradeOm for kickstarting this moribund project. - Random Precision
The Russian Revolution Bibliography
The Russian Revolution is undeniably one of the most significant world events of the past century and some of the most common questions I see on RevLeft are requests for reading lists on this hugely important topic. Like all major events, the Russian Revolution tends to be fairly divisive with some major faultline running though the historiography of the Revolution. So below are some of the works (currently only secondary sources) that I would recommend to those new to the subject or looking to increase their understanding of a certain aspect. All these should be available for amazon.co.uk at a last resort and may be available cheaper from other sources
I had originally intended to put this together for RP months ago (apologies!) but I suppose its better late than never. I've posted it as an independent thread largely because I intend to update it over time but I'll leave it to RP to link/merge/sticky it as he feels fit
If you do have any recommendations yourself (and this list is certainly not intended to be exhaustive) then it'd be great if you could send me on a quick review and I'll update the first post
-----
Getting Started: Introductory Works
So you want to learn about the Russian Revolution but don't know where to start? Understandable given the complexity of the subject. Here is a very brief list of books that you should consider when approaching the subject for the first time. Don't feel obliged to read them all; one or two will be enough to set you up for tackling more in-depth studies of the Revolution. Reviews for the below books can be found further down
The Russian Revolution (Shelia Fitzpatrick): The best place to start. Very short and more concerned with themes than events. Follow up with another introductory work
The Russian Revolution (Rex Wade): Probably the best single-work about 1917 on the market today
A People's Tragedy (Orlando Figes): On this list for the virtue of being both comprehensive and very readable. Still a deeply flawed work though and virulently anti-Bolshevik. Read in conjunction with The Bolsheviks Come to Power (Alexander Rabinowitch)
The Russian Revolution 1917-1921: A Short History (James White): Solid introduction that covers all the bases. A good place to start
-----
A Note on the Historiography of the Revolution
Generally Western writing on the Russian Revolution (excluding early works by hysterical emigres or blind fellow-travellers) tend to break down along two lines. The first is the conservative approach that views the Revolution essentially as a coup planned and carried out by a dedicated and secretive cabal of professional revolutionaries. Guided by Lenin's genius, and enabled by the naivety of the honourable Kerensky et al, they stole into power and inflicted their dictatorship on Russia. Richard Pipes is one of the more extreme proponents of this school but adds his own twist in which the Bolsheviks were direct descendants of Tsarism and a product of the innate Russian love of authoritarianism. Hence the labels of 'totalitarian' and 'triumphalist' (the latter common during the 1990s when it seemed that Russia had departed from its Sonderweg and joined the liberal democracies) that are typically applied to his work
The other line of thought is just as old (Rabinowitch forwarded the basic thesis in the 1960s) but it really gathered steam from the 1980s onwards, represented by the likes of Shelia Fitzpatrick. This 'revisionist' school takes a bottom-up approach through studying the social events and trends of the Revolution. As opposed to a near-exclusive interest in high-politics or intellectual currents. They have quite conclusively shown that the conservative interpretation of 1917 is deeply flawed and, IMO, entirely unsustainable. This is so much so that even recent works by the likes of Figes, whose attitude to the Bolsheviks is heavily influenced by Pipes, is forced to concede the popular nature of the Revolution
This breakdown does continue, albeit to a lesser degree, into the 1930s. For Pipes et al the Purges are a logical progression of Bolshevik ideology, while revisionists (of whom Getty has notably gone the furtherest... probably too far) explain them primarily in terms of interaction between state and society during an incredibly volatile period. Its also worth noting that a number of economic historians (such as Davies, Ellman, Wheatcroft, etc) have applied really good statistical approaches to this period which, in conjunction with archive evidence, have pretty much demolished the old figures of 20+ million deaths ascribed by Conquest and his ilk to the Stalin period. See this thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/did-stalin-really-t145370/index.html)
(Original post made here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/cant-agree-communism-t146397/index2.html))
-----
Russian Revolution: Primary Sources
How the Soviets Work
Brailsford, HN
The product of two visits to the new Soviet Union during the 1920s, this work by the British journalist Brailsford is not strictly about the Revolution of 1917. Nonetheless it remains a fascinating insight into how the new Soviet state operated and viewed itself. Particularly of note is the description of how the lower soviets worked and the procedures of a soviet election. As a foreign journalist Brailsford's observations are somewhat limited - particularly when compared to later historical accounts that draw on a variety of Russian sources - but always interesting and insightful
Available online here (http://www.marxists.org/history/archive/brailsford/1927/soviets-work/index.htm)
Ten Days that Shook the World
Reed, John
An undoubted classic, John Reed's account of the October Revolution remains one of the best known English language texts on the Russian Revolution. Primarily a work of journalism as opposed to history, it manages, perhaps because of this, to perfectly capture the frantic atmosphere of revolutionary Petrograd. In this Reed, an American journalist, moves through the city (including the Congress of Soviets and the Winter Palace) while encountering a fascinating set of characters - from ordinary workers to high politicians. It may not be the best starting point for the new reader, but remains a must-read for anyone with an interest in the Revolution
Available online here (http://www.marxists.org/archive/reed/1919/10days/10days/)
The Russian Revolution: A Personal Record
Sukhanov, Nikolai
Sukhanov was a Menshevik politician who played a major role in the February Revolution and who, like John Reed, had the chronicler's knack of being in the right place at the right time. His memoirs, published in 1922, are defensive, often catty, highly critical of the Bolsheviks and simultaneously disarmingly honest and often disingenuous. Yet they remain both an entertaining read and an insight into the events of 1917 from one of its peripheral actors. Probably the single most influential work that emerged in the immediate post-revolution period and one that laid down the narrative template that historians still use today
-----
Russian Revolution: Secondary Sources
The Russian Anarchists
Avrich, Paul
First of all a disclaimer: Avrich may not himself be an anarchist but he writes very much from the anarchist perspective and it is clear where his sympathies lie in this account of the history of Russian anarchism. Yet this is by no means an overly biased work – Avrich is certainly not blind to the failings of Russian anarchism (even if he over-stresses their influence and does not advertise their relatively miniscule numbers) and those lapses (for example, claiming that Lenin had effectively renounced Marxism in 1917) can be excused by noting that this was the opinion of many Russian anarchists themselves at the time
With that said and done, what this book contains is an in-depth history of Russian anarchism from the late 19th C to the Civil War. Given the lack of attention typically received by anarchism in mainstream histories, this a very welcome work which, despite any flaws, is to be commended for presenting a thorough and relatively even-handed picture of the origins of role of Russian anarchism. If you are interested in this topic then this work is highly recommended. Like most works however it should be read as part of a balanced diet
Soviet Economic Development from Lenin to Khrushchev
Davies, RW
Soviet economic history is not the easiest of fields to enter but with this work RW Davies presents a very concise (a mere 82 pages of content) introduction for those unfamiliar with the subject. Essentially it comprises a series of brief overviews of the major structural shifts that took place in the Russian/Soviet economy – Tsarism, War Communism, NEP, and the administrative economy. Too often these profound and far-reaching changes are overlooked in favour of the more obvious political and social shifts. Davies is probably the foremost expert in this field and his treatment is both very readable and even-handed; in cases of controversy he will typically present a range of opinions from the literature before casting his own judgement. A good introduction to a complex and often overlooked facet of the Revolution
Those looking for a more in-depth account of early Soviet economics (particularly the post-Revolution period) are advised to try The Economic Transformation of the Soviet Union 1913-1945 by Davies et al
A People’s Tragedy
Figes, Orlando
Rarely is a history book such a mixture of good and bad but this is a very difficult book to review so briefly. Figes is, to put it mildly, a very anti-communist writer and his book is extremely poor when it comes to analysing the Bolsheviks. Frankly he strips the latter to nothing but "leather jack-wearing proto-Nazis", to quote David Renton, with no motivations beyond seizing power for the sake of power. Figes is not quite as bad as the Americans (epitomised by Richard Pipes) in that he at least acknowledges the Revolution as a mass affair but his sympathies with the moderate intellectuals (the book could easily be renamed Gorky's Tragedy) are very obvious and very detrimental to the book. While not entirely worthless, this makes the final half or third of this book extremely suspect
Conversely, there is much to admire about Figes' work. Its a well written and fairly detailed overview of the period. His liberal viewpoint is not so grating when applied to the Imperial years his analysis as to the fall of the Tsardom and the failures of the liberals post-1905 is sound. The Civil War period (and fall of Trotsky) is also covered well enough. So well worth reading but do so with caution
The Russian Revolution
Fitzpatrick, Shelia
Sheila Fitzpatrick is one of the foremost 'revisionist' scholars of the Russian Revolution and here she provides a concise (read: short) but informative introduction to the revolutionary period. This is not a particularly detailed work but rather an overview of the broad trends and issues. In this Fitzpatrick excels with her history covering the immense social upheaval from 1917 to the 1930s. Those already familiar with the period are unlikely to learn anything new (although it remains a good read) but it is highly recommended introductory text for those new to the subject
The Russian Revolution: A Study in Mass Mobilisation
Keep, John
Perhaps slightly outdated, and certainly not without flaws, this is still a pioneering work that examines what Keep calls "the lower depths of Russian society in 1917". Of particular interest is the examination of the soviets themselves and how they were structured and operated at a grassroots level. As such its not an account of the events of 1917 but rather a detailed study of the social classes (ie, the proletariat and the peasantry) involved in this process. Worth reading for this alone
Red Victory: A History of the Russian Civil War
Lincoln, Bruce
Of all the books listed here, this is probably the most "traditional" history in that its focus lies unabashedly on the military and political, as opposed to social and economic, aspects of the revolutionary years. This approach has its undoubted disadvantages (while it begins in 1917 I would not recommend this as a history of that year or the Revolution) but, perhaps perversely, it proves a good framework for studying the Civil War. Lincoln is at his best in detailing the movements of armies and the fall of governments and he proves adapt at leading the reader through what was undeniably an extremely complex conflict
Each theatre is dealt with in a single chapter, as opposed to chronologically, which may not be ideal for some readers. In addition both the author's florid style (the book would be a lot shorter if his prose was simpler) and the clumsiness with regards social factors does grate after a while. On the whole though it is a worthwhile read
Revolution and Counter-Revolution: Class Struggle in a Moscow Metal Factory
Murphy, Kevin
This is one of the few entries from a self-confess Marxist on this list but Murphy, a Trotskyist, deserves acclaim for this exceptional research-driven analysis of the impact of the Revolution on the Hammer and Sickle factory, from pre-1917 through to the 1930s. The tight focus means that the work's scope is inherently limited, even if Murphy is eager to draw wider conclusions from his findings, but still provides an illuminating insight into the challenges and structures that shaped the lives of Russian workers. Of particular interest is the NEP period, too often ignored in literature, and the workers' interactions with the new Soviet state
Prelude to Revolution
Rabinowitch, Alexander
The first of Rabinowitch's three works on the Russian Revolution (one of the earliest historical studies of the period to be published in English) focuses on the structure of and divisions within the Bolshevik party during the first half of 1917 – from the February Revolution and its aftermath to the July Days. This entails a largely chronological examination of the Petrograd Bolshevik party organisations, their policies and membership, and the reactions to the challenges they faced. The author's analysis of the Bolsheviks is not as mature as in later works (freely admitted in the foreword) but the basic conclusions remain sound and have been largely confirmed by later research
The Bolsheviks Come to Power
Rabinowitch, Alexander
Building on his previous work (Prelude to Revolution) Rabinowitch's second major work covers the crucial period of 1917 from the July Days to the October Revolution. Once again focusing on the Bolshevik party, he confronts and systematically demolishes many of the myths erected in the decades following the Revolution. In doing so the movement that emerges is a much more nuanced, conflicted, and (yes) democratic than that of the popular imagination. Given the continuing popularity of debate/arguments/infighting regarding the "vanguard party", this is one of the most relevant works of history for the leftist movement today. Cannot be recommended highly enough
The Bolsheviks in Power
Rabinowitch, Alexander
After laying out the structures and nature of the pre-Revolution Bolshevik party in his previous works, Rabinowitch asks the question of how such a vibrantly democratic party/movement ultimately degenerated into a one-party dictatorial state. Ultimately his canvas (Petrograd from the October Revolution to its anniversary in 1918) proves too narrow for this question – and the author can only hint at possible root causes – but in the process a stunningly researched picture emerges of the post-revolution city. Major topics touched upon include aftermath of the October Revolution, composition of the new Soviet government, emergence of the district soviets and decline of the Bolshevik party. Even the movement of the capital to Moscow, while robbing Rabinowitch of some star characters, provides an illuminating insight into the relationship between the central and provincial governments. A fascinating study of a society in flux
Red Petrograd: Revolution in the Factories 1917-1918
Smith, SA
Despite beginning life as a dissertation, and it is still unmistakably academic in tone, this is a very readable work that tackles an important but often overlooked topic. The author's subject matter is nothing short of the Petrograd working class during this most turbulent of periods. Subjects that are covered include, but are not limited to, the composition of the proletariat, pre-Revolution labour relations, the state of Russian industry, the emergence and evolution of the factory committees and industrial unions, and the interaction of the latter with political parties. It is a broad canvas but one that Smith succeeds in covering in admirable data and in the process dispels a few myths commonly held on the left
This is not the cheapest of works (amazon.com has it at $50) but is essential reading for anyone with an interest in this aspect of the Revolution, particularly the factory committees
Russia's Civil War
Swain, Geoffrey
In many ways this is an odd and conflicted work. In the first place it is a concise work that requires a prior knowledge of the subject. While avoiding the pitfalls of being a simple military history (such as Lincoln's Red Victory) Swain's work is too brief and too focused on the peasantry for its own good. In the final analysis the Civil War was indeed a civil war yet the author pays little attention to this aspect of the conflict. Instead he deals primarily with the various 'Green' (read: miscellaneous) governments/movements that were active during these years. So, despite the title, this is not a general history
A more problematic concern is that that Swain's central thesis simply does not convince. In attempting to move away from the binary Red/White framework of the Civil War he has produced an equally simplistic Red/White/Green analysis. Drawing attention to the peasant conflict is very worthy but attempting to cast it as an overall 'Green movement' is clumsy as best. It stretches credibility to the limit to cast the wave of peasant jacquries of 1920-'21 (in which he incidentally includes Kronstadt) as a single "Green rebellion"
The book is not helped by a constant stream of fleeting references (characters, towns, fronts) that would probably bewilder the newcomer. Nonetheless, the emphasis on the peasantry, while overworked, is interesting and this is worth reading as a companion to other works. Just do not expect an introductory or general history
The Russian Revolution
Wade, Rex
There's not a huge amount that is original or unique in this work, including the title, but this is not to belittle what is an excellent introduction to the Russian Revolution. Wade sets out the basic approach to the events of 1917 but he does so in an assured and informative way. Its more detailed than Fitzpatrick's work (see above) yet still relatively short while covering all the major topics. Highly recommended for beginners
The Russian Revolution 1917-1921: A Short History
White, James D
White is a good historian (see his article on the February Revolution here (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~semp/revolution.htm)) and here he produces a solid overview of the revolutionary years in Russia. The emphasis is squarely on the social changes that led to and followed the Revolution, including a particularly welcome analysis of the peasantry. As a good and accessible work, with less detail than Figes but more so than Fitzpatrick, this serves as a good solid introduction to the topic
The Russian Revolution Bibliography
The Russian Revolution is undeniably one of the most significant world events of the past century and some of the most common questions I see on RevLeft are requests for reading lists on this hugely important topic. Like all major events, the Russian Revolution tends to be fairly divisive with some major faultline running though the historiography of the Revolution. So below are some of the works (currently only secondary sources) that I would recommend to those new to the subject or looking to increase their understanding of a certain aspect. All these should be available for amazon.co.uk at a last resort and may be available cheaper from other sources
I had originally intended to put this together for RP months ago (apologies!) but I suppose its better late than never. I've posted it as an independent thread largely because I intend to update it over time but I'll leave it to RP to link/merge/sticky it as he feels fit
If you do have any recommendations yourself (and this list is certainly not intended to be exhaustive) then it'd be great if you could send me on a quick review and I'll update the first post
-----
Getting Started: Introductory Works
So you want to learn about the Russian Revolution but don't know where to start? Understandable given the complexity of the subject. Here is a very brief list of books that you should consider when approaching the subject for the first time. Don't feel obliged to read them all; one or two will be enough to set you up for tackling more in-depth studies of the Revolution. Reviews for the below books can be found further down
The Russian Revolution (Shelia Fitzpatrick): The best place to start. Very short and more concerned with themes than events. Follow up with another introductory work
The Russian Revolution (Rex Wade): Probably the best single-work about 1917 on the market today
A People's Tragedy (Orlando Figes): On this list for the virtue of being both comprehensive and very readable. Still a deeply flawed work though and virulently anti-Bolshevik. Read in conjunction with The Bolsheviks Come to Power (Alexander Rabinowitch)
The Russian Revolution 1917-1921: A Short History (James White): Solid introduction that covers all the bases. A good place to start
-----
A Note on the Historiography of the Revolution
Generally Western writing on the Russian Revolution (excluding early works by hysterical emigres or blind fellow-travellers) tend to break down along two lines. The first is the conservative approach that views the Revolution essentially as a coup planned and carried out by a dedicated and secretive cabal of professional revolutionaries. Guided by Lenin's genius, and enabled by the naivety of the honourable Kerensky et al, they stole into power and inflicted their dictatorship on Russia. Richard Pipes is one of the more extreme proponents of this school but adds his own twist in which the Bolsheviks were direct descendants of Tsarism and a product of the innate Russian love of authoritarianism. Hence the labels of 'totalitarian' and 'triumphalist' (the latter common during the 1990s when it seemed that Russia had departed from its Sonderweg and joined the liberal democracies) that are typically applied to his work
The other line of thought is just as old (Rabinowitch forwarded the basic thesis in the 1960s) but it really gathered steam from the 1980s onwards, represented by the likes of Shelia Fitzpatrick. This 'revisionist' school takes a bottom-up approach through studying the social events and trends of the Revolution. As opposed to a near-exclusive interest in high-politics or intellectual currents. They have quite conclusively shown that the conservative interpretation of 1917 is deeply flawed and, IMO, entirely unsustainable. This is so much so that even recent works by the likes of Figes, whose attitude to the Bolsheviks is heavily influenced by Pipes, is forced to concede the popular nature of the Revolution
This breakdown does continue, albeit to a lesser degree, into the 1930s. For Pipes et al the Purges are a logical progression of Bolshevik ideology, while revisionists (of whom Getty has notably gone the furtherest... probably too far) explain them primarily in terms of interaction between state and society during an incredibly volatile period. Its also worth noting that a number of economic historians (such as Davies, Ellman, Wheatcroft, etc) have applied really good statistical approaches to this period which, in conjunction with archive evidence, have pretty much demolished the old figures of 20+ million deaths ascribed by Conquest and his ilk to the Stalin period. See this thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/did-stalin-really-t145370/index.html)
(Original post made here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/cant-agree-communism-t146397/index2.html))
-----
Russian Revolution: Primary Sources
How the Soviets Work
Brailsford, HN
The product of two visits to the new Soviet Union during the 1920s, this work by the British journalist Brailsford is not strictly about the Revolution of 1917. Nonetheless it remains a fascinating insight into how the new Soviet state operated and viewed itself. Particularly of note is the description of how the lower soviets worked and the procedures of a soviet election. As a foreign journalist Brailsford's observations are somewhat limited - particularly when compared to later historical accounts that draw on a variety of Russian sources - but always interesting and insightful
Available online here (http://www.marxists.org/history/archive/brailsford/1927/soviets-work/index.htm)
Ten Days that Shook the World
Reed, John
An undoubted classic, John Reed's account of the October Revolution remains one of the best known English language texts on the Russian Revolution. Primarily a work of journalism as opposed to history, it manages, perhaps because of this, to perfectly capture the frantic atmosphere of revolutionary Petrograd. In this Reed, an American journalist, moves through the city (including the Congress of Soviets and the Winter Palace) while encountering a fascinating set of characters - from ordinary workers to high politicians. It may not be the best starting point for the new reader, but remains a must-read for anyone with an interest in the Revolution
Available online here (http://www.marxists.org/archive/reed/1919/10days/10days/)
The Russian Revolution: A Personal Record
Sukhanov, Nikolai
Sukhanov was a Menshevik politician who played a major role in the February Revolution and who, like John Reed, had the chronicler's knack of being in the right place at the right time. His memoirs, published in 1922, are defensive, often catty, highly critical of the Bolsheviks and simultaneously disarmingly honest and often disingenuous. Yet they remain both an entertaining read and an insight into the events of 1917 from one of its peripheral actors. Probably the single most influential work that emerged in the immediate post-revolution period and one that laid down the narrative template that historians still use today
-----
Russian Revolution: Secondary Sources
The Russian Anarchists
Avrich, Paul
First of all a disclaimer: Avrich may not himself be an anarchist but he writes very much from the anarchist perspective and it is clear where his sympathies lie in this account of the history of Russian anarchism. Yet this is by no means an overly biased work – Avrich is certainly not blind to the failings of Russian anarchism (even if he over-stresses their influence and does not advertise their relatively miniscule numbers) and those lapses (for example, claiming that Lenin had effectively renounced Marxism in 1917) can be excused by noting that this was the opinion of many Russian anarchists themselves at the time
With that said and done, what this book contains is an in-depth history of Russian anarchism from the late 19th C to the Civil War. Given the lack of attention typically received by anarchism in mainstream histories, this a very welcome work which, despite any flaws, is to be commended for presenting a thorough and relatively even-handed picture of the origins of role of Russian anarchism. If you are interested in this topic then this work is highly recommended. Like most works however it should be read as part of a balanced diet
Soviet Economic Development from Lenin to Khrushchev
Davies, RW
Soviet economic history is not the easiest of fields to enter but with this work RW Davies presents a very concise (a mere 82 pages of content) introduction for those unfamiliar with the subject. Essentially it comprises a series of brief overviews of the major structural shifts that took place in the Russian/Soviet economy – Tsarism, War Communism, NEP, and the administrative economy. Too often these profound and far-reaching changes are overlooked in favour of the more obvious political and social shifts. Davies is probably the foremost expert in this field and his treatment is both very readable and even-handed; in cases of controversy he will typically present a range of opinions from the literature before casting his own judgement. A good introduction to a complex and often overlooked facet of the Revolution
Those looking for a more in-depth account of early Soviet economics (particularly the post-Revolution period) are advised to try The Economic Transformation of the Soviet Union 1913-1945 by Davies et al
A People’s Tragedy
Figes, Orlando
Rarely is a history book such a mixture of good and bad but this is a very difficult book to review so briefly. Figes is, to put it mildly, a very anti-communist writer and his book is extremely poor when it comes to analysing the Bolsheviks. Frankly he strips the latter to nothing but "leather jack-wearing proto-Nazis", to quote David Renton, with no motivations beyond seizing power for the sake of power. Figes is not quite as bad as the Americans (epitomised by Richard Pipes) in that he at least acknowledges the Revolution as a mass affair but his sympathies with the moderate intellectuals (the book could easily be renamed Gorky's Tragedy) are very obvious and very detrimental to the book. While not entirely worthless, this makes the final half or third of this book extremely suspect
Conversely, there is much to admire about Figes' work. Its a well written and fairly detailed overview of the period. His liberal viewpoint is not so grating when applied to the Imperial years his analysis as to the fall of the Tsardom and the failures of the liberals post-1905 is sound. The Civil War period (and fall of Trotsky) is also covered well enough. So well worth reading but do so with caution
The Russian Revolution
Fitzpatrick, Shelia
Sheila Fitzpatrick is one of the foremost 'revisionist' scholars of the Russian Revolution and here she provides a concise (read: short) but informative introduction to the revolutionary period. This is not a particularly detailed work but rather an overview of the broad trends and issues. In this Fitzpatrick excels with her history covering the immense social upheaval from 1917 to the 1930s. Those already familiar with the period are unlikely to learn anything new (although it remains a good read) but it is highly recommended introductory text for those new to the subject
The Russian Revolution: A Study in Mass Mobilisation
Keep, John
Perhaps slightly outdated, and certainly not without flaws, this is still a pioneering work that examines what Keep calls "the lower depths of Russian society in 1917". Of particular interest is the examination of the soviets themselves and how they were structured and operated at a grassroots level. As such its not an account of the events of 1917 but rather a detailed study of the social classes (ie, the proletariat and the peasantry) involved in this process. Worth reading for this alone
Red Victory: A History of the Russian Civil War
Lincoln, Bruce
Of all the books listed here, this is probably the most "traditional" history in that its focus lies unabashedly on the military and political, as opposed to social and economic, aspects of the revolutionary years. This approach has its undoubted disadvantages (while it begins in 1917 I would not recommend this as a history of that year or the Revolution) but, perhaps perversely, it proves a good framework for studying the Civil War. Lincoln is at his best in detailing the movements of armies and the fall of governments and he proves adapt at leading the reader through what was undeniably an extremely complex conflict
Each theatre is dealt with in a single chapter, as opposed to chronologically, which may not be ideal for some readers. In addition both the author's florid style (the book would be a lot shorter if his prose was simpler) and the clumsiness with regards social factors does grate after a while. On the whole though it is a worthwhile read
Revolution and Counter-Revolution: Class Struggle in a Moscow Metal Factory
Murphy, Kevin
This is one of the few entries from a self-confess Marxist on this list but Murphy, a Trotskyist, deserves acclaim for this exceptional research-driven analysis of the impact of the Revolution on the Hammer and Sickle factory, from pre-1917 through to the 1930s. The tight focus means that the work's scope is inherently limited, even if Murphy is eager to draw wider conclusions from his findings, but still provides an illuminating insight into the challenges and structures that shaped the lives of Russian workers. Of particular interest is the NEP period, too often ignored in literature, and the workers' interactions with the new Soviet state
Prelude to Revolution
Rabinowitch, Alexander
The first of Rabinowitch's three works on the Russian Revolution (one of the earliest historical studies of the period to be published in English) focuses on the structure of and divisions within the Bolshevik party during the first half of 1917 – from the February Revolution and its aftermath to the July Days. This entails a largely chronological examination of the Petrograd Bolshevik party organisations, their policies and membership, and the reactions to the challenges they faced. The author's analysis of the Bolsheviks is not as mature as in later works (freely admitted in the foreword) but the basic conclusions remain sound and have been largely confirmed by later research
The Bolsheviks Come to Power
Rabinowitch, Alexander
Building on his previous work (Prelude to Revolution) Rabinowitch's second major work covers the crucial period of 1917 from the July Days to the October Revolution. Once again focusing on the Bolshevik party, he confronts and systematically demolishes many of the myths erected in the decades following the Revolution. In doing so the movement that emerges is a much more nuanced, conflicted, and (yes) democratic than that of the popular imagination. Given the continuing popularity of debate/arguments/infighting regarding the "vanguard party", this is one of the most relevant works of history for the leftist movement today. Cannot be recommended highly enough
The Bolsheviks in Power
Rabinowitch, Alexander
After laying out the structures and nature of the pre-Revolution Bolshevik party in his previous works, Rabinowitch asks the question of how such a vibrantly democratic party/movement ultimately degenerated into a one-party dictatorial state. Ultimately his canvas (Petrograd from the October Revolution to its anniversary in 1918) proves too narrow for this question – and the author can only hint at possible root causes – but in the process a stunningly researched picture emerges of the post-revolution city. Major topics touched upon include aftermath of the October Revolution, composition of the new Soviet government, emergence of the district soviets and decline of the Bolshevik party. Even the movement of the capital to Moscow, while robbing Rabinowitch of some star characters, provides an illuminating insight into the relationship between the central and provincial governments. A fascinating study of a society in flux
Red Petrograd: Revolution in the Factories 1917-1918
Smith, SA
Despite beginning life as a dissertation, and it is still unmistakably academic in tone, this is a very readable work that tackles an important but often overlooked topic. The author's subject matter is nothing short of the Petrograd working class during this most turbulent of periods. Subjects that are covered include, but are not limited to, the composition of the proletariat, pre-Revolution labour relations, the state of Russian industry, the emergence and evolution of the factory committees and industrial unions, and the interaction of the latter with political parties. It is a broad canvas but one that Smith succeeds in covering in admirable data and in the process dispels a few myths commonly held on the left
This is not the cheapest of works (amazon.com has it at $50) but is essential reading for anyone with an interest in this aspect of the Revolution, particularly the factory committees
Russia's Civil War
Swain, Geoffrey
In many ways this is an odd and conflicted work. In the first place it is a concise work that requires a prior knowledge of the subject. While avoiding the pitfalls of being a simple military history (such as Lincoln's Red Victory) Swain's work is too brief and too focused on the peasantry for its own good. In the final analysis the Civil War was indeed a civil war yet the author pays little attention to this aspect of the conflict. Instead he deals primarily with the various 'Green' (read: miscellaneous) governments/movements that were active during these years. So, despite the title, this is not a general history
A more problematic concern is that that Swain's central thesis simply does not convince. In attempting to move away from the binary Red/White framework of the Civil War he has produced an equally simplistic Red/White/Green analysis. Drawing attention to the peasant conflict is very worthy but attempting to cast it as an overall 'Green movement' is clumsy as best. It stretches credibility to the limit to cast the wave of peasant jacquries of 1920-'21 (in which he incidentally includes Kronstadt) as a single "Green rebellion"
The book is not helped by a constant stream of fleeting references (characters, towns, fronts) that would probably bewilder the newcomer. Nonetheless, the emphasis on the peasantry, while overworked, is interesting and this is worth reading as a companion to other works. Just do not expect an introductory or general history
The Russian Revolution
Wade, Rex
There's not a huge amount that is original or unique in this work, including the title, but this is not to belittle what is an excellent introduction to the Russian Revolution. Wade sets out the basic approach to the events of 1917 but he does so in an assured and informative way. Its more detailed than Fitzpatrick's work (see above) yet still relatively short while covering all the major topics. Highly recommended for beginners
The Russian Revolution 1917-1921: A Short History
White, James D
White is a good historian (see his article on the February Revolution here (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~semp/revolution.htm)) and here he produces a solid overview of the revolutionary years in Russia. The emphasis is squarely on the social changes that led to and followed the Revolution, including a particularly welcome analysis of the peasantry. As a good and accessible work, with less detail than Figes but more so than Fitzpatrick, this serves as a good solid introduction to the topic