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gentlemangeek's review against another edition
5.0
This was an engrossing read from start to finish.
It drastically changed my idea of the Soviet Union and present day Russia.
Even with the westernisation that happened in the 90s Russia is a country who's 20th century was shaped by tremendous violence that wasn't just limited to the ruling class.
I highly recommend this book.
It drastically changed my idea of the Soviet Union and present day Russia.
Even with the westernisation that happened in the 90s Russia is a country who's 20th century was shaped by tremendous violence that wasn't just limited to the ruling class.
I highly recommend this book.
loyaultemelie's review against another edition
5.0
Probably one of the best Russian history books I’ve read in a while, I’m sure I will reread this many times.
I do admit though that keeping everyone together in my head was nearly impossible and, though I greatly appreciated it, the family trees at the beginning of the book were not nearly comprehensive enough.
That being said this book was deeply touching, I cried my way through the back four or so chapters, and brought to light for me questions about the struggle for a more peaceful and equal future.
Do former oppressors deserve to be oppressed in turn - can such an idea even be justified or will that simply devolve into great cyclical violence? How do we reconcile ourselves with a horrific past, how do we respond to it? How can we mourn for those who lived in incredible wealth when most people in Russia lived in crushing poverty? How can we not be moved by the unrelenting tragedy that dogged the “former people”? I don’t think the book answers these questions, but I don’t think it has to. Rather that it poses these questions in a poignant and moving way is a testament to its quality in itself.
Edit: Bumped it up to five stars as this book has been haunting me for almost a year now
I do admit though that keeping everyone together in my head was nearly impossible and, though I greatly appreciated it, the family trees at the beginning of the book were not nearly comprehensive enough.
That being said this book was deeply touching, I cried my way through the back four or so chapters, and brought to light for me questions about the struggle for a more peaceful and equal future.
Do former oppressors deserve to be oppressed in turn - can such an idea even be justified or will that simply devolve into great cyclical violence? How do we reconcile ourselves with a horrific past, how do we respond to it? How can we mourn for those who lived in incredible wealth when most people in Russia lived in crushing poverty? How can we not be moved by the unrelenting tragedy that dogged the “former people”? I don’t think the book answers these questions, but I don’t think it has to. Rather that it poses these questions in a poignant and moving way is a testament to its quality in itself.
Edit: Bumped it up to five stars as this book has been haunting me for almost a year now
giesskanne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
libkatem's review against another edition
4.0
AMAZING.
Seriously. And as Smith points out, apart from the fate of the royal family, the nobles and boyars' fates aren't really told in the historiography of the Russian Revolution. It was very interesting to follow these families, some who left, but many who stayed.
Seriously. And as Smith points out, apart from the fate of the royal family, the nobles and boyars' fates aren't really told in the historiography of the Russian Revolution. It was very interesting to follow these families, some who left, but many who stayed.
innashtakser's review against another edition
3.0
Rather disappointing, I'm afraid. Admittedly my expectations were very high. Smith, after all, is the author of a wonderful book on Russian free masons Working the Rough Stone. In addition the topic is very interesting and the author was in possession of much data. I can also see why some people enjoyed the book - Smith is an excellent writer. The main problem I had was that he did not really attempt to analyze his data. He ended up telling a very sad story about the tragic fate of Russian aristocrats after the 1917 revolution, but did not really try to analyze the context. After reading this book I do not feel I can better understand what happens with the former elites after a social revolution. In a way the book reminds me of these novels dealing with human rights violations, but not attempting to understand these in political, rather than moral, context. While this is acceptable in a novel, I do feel a historian should have done better.