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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
October: The Story of the Russian Revolution - 3.5/5
A dense, well written account of Russia's February and October 1917 Revolutions, alongside a narrative of how the first transformed into the second. Mieville is obviously very passionate about the subject (as the fact that he took the time to write a book about it can attest) and he makes clear his biases right at the beginning. He is a Marxist and he does not try to disguise the fact that he is very sympathetic towards the various Socialist and Communist parties that play a part in the events.
However, broadly, he still tells the story of both Revolutions as fairly as he can, focusing in on the failings of each government that ultimately resulted in the Revolutions which threw them out, and the Civil War brewing against the new Socialist order as October closes. Initially we follow the Tsar's administration as it swept away by under the weight of public anger, replaced by the bickering between, and within, both the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet.
Some of the most interesting material covered though comes when the narrative leaves the streets of the Petrograd and gives brief looks in at what is happening in the rest of Russia. Learning a little about the All-Russian Muslim Women's Congress in Kazan, the political struggles under the shadows of oil derricks in Baku or the steady radicalisation of the Latvian Soviet in Riga brought home that this Revolution was not solely a Petrograd one but encompassed the entirety of Russia's Empire.
Overall, an engaging, well told history of the Russian Revolutions, clearly written with care and, whilst it is partisan in places, it doesn't fall fully into a Bolshevik apologist piece. Worth a read if you're interested in a critical moment in not only Russian but world history.
A dense, well written account of Russia's February and October 1917 Revolutions, alongside a narrative of how the first transformed into the second. Mieville is obviously very passionate about the subject (as the fact that he took the time to write a book about it can attest) and he makes clear his biases right at the beginning. He is a Marxist and he does not try to disguise the fact that he is very sympathetic towards the various Socialist and Communist parties that play a part in the events.
However, broadly, he still tells the story of both Revolutions as fairly as he can, focusing in on the failings of each government that ultimately resulted in the Revolutions which threw them out, and the Civil War brewing against the new Socialist order as October closes. Initially we follow the Tsar's administration as it swept away by under the weight of public anger, replaced by the bickering between, and within, both the Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet.
Some of the most interesting material covered though comes when the narrative leaves the streets of the Petrograd and gives brief looks in at what is happening in the rest of Russia. Learning a little about the All-Russian Muslim Women's Congress in Kazan, the political struggles under the shadows of oil derricks in Baku or the steady radicalisation of the Latvian Soviet in Riga brought home that this Revolution was not solely a Petrograd one but encompassed the entirety of Russia's Empire.
Overall, an engaging, well told history of the Russian Revolutions, clearly written with care and, whilst it is partisan in places, it doesn't fall fully into a Bolshevik apologist piece. Worth a read if you're interested in a critical moment in not only Russian but world history.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Miéville’s prose crackles and sparks as he brings us along at breakneck speed through the incredible story of the world’s first socialist revolution. More gripping than fiction, indeed. October serves to remind us that history is not simply a dusty old book, but that the people who lived and struggled to make it were real, and their energy is palpable.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
A very high level overview of the Russian Revolution and the pivotal events of October 1917, China Miéville’s October is a good foundation for anyone who’s curious about the Russian Revolution but not sure where to start. It’s largely a very factual account of the events which led to October 1917, the events that month, and then the aftermath with some analysis. There’s not a ton of discussion throughout the book, and I would have liked more analysis of the events of October 1917, but for someone who was interested but hadn’t really engaged with a good overview, I found this valuable.
Beautifully written. Not the most thorough account of the Russian Revolution, but the prose makes me wish every historian wrote like this, including me in my academic years. I'd heartfully recommend this to anyone willing to immerse themselves in the dynamics of 1917 Petrograd.
informative
medium-paced
I like the idea of a narrative telling of the Russian revolution but in practice I think that the writing style was very convoluted
It was hard to follow as an audiobook, I'll try reading it instead
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
I really despise Mieville's writing style and I don't really trust his historical narrative.
Después de las atrocidades de las socialismos reales en el siglo XX, que una persona informada se declare aun comunista es casi un acto de valentía.
Pero la historia de la revolución rusa es superlativa y fascinante porque encapsula todo el esplendor y tragedia de la interacción entre las sociedades y el poder. Esa historia de nunca acabar de las esperanzas del pueblo chocando contra la ceguera y estupidez de sus líderes. De esas fugaces, engañosas primaveras antes de caer en inviernos aún más cruentos.
Pero la historia de la revolución rusa es superlativa y fascinante porque encapsula todo el esplendor y tragedia de la interacción entre las sociedades y el poder. Esa historia de nunca acabar de las esperanzas del pueblo chocando contra la ceguera y estupidez de sus líderes. De esas fugaces, engañosas primaveras antes de caer en inviernos aún más cruentos.