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A review by keegan_leech
October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miéville
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
An absolute standout work of historical writing. Miéville has the most remarkable ability to communicate both the minutiae and the milestones of history with the same thrilling enthusiasm.
The introduction to the book is a perfect example. It sweeps through the entire history of St Petersburg, and with it all of Russia. Miéville covers hundreds of years all without losing sight of small details. Characters and political factions who will remain relevant all the way to the glossary are introduced and developed with a eye to both their personal characters and motivations, and the role they'll play in the grand narrative of history. Amusing anecdotes, small milestones, digressions into historical minutiae all build together into the beginnings of a narrative that, by the time the first chapter arrives, already feels primed to explode in a dozen different directions at once. There are so many moving parts, characters and groups and political ideologies, all jostling to be heard above the din of history and Miéville does an excellent job of giving them all their moment.
The sheer number of things going on, and characters involved can sometimes make for a very dense narrative. I recommend making frequent use of the glossary of important characters and, where that doesn't suffice, using the index or outside sources to frequently remind yourself of who all the important parties are. However, the breathless emotional undercurrent which drives the book makes it infectiously readable. It is very easy to feel engrossed in even seemingly banal details of bureaucratic hair-splitting, letter-writing, and endless committees and proclamations.
This is a (very well narrated) story of one of the most interesting moments in political history, and any writer would be hard-pressed to explore it with the nuance and infectious vitality that Miéville brings to its events. October is a must-read for anyone even vaguely interested not just in the October revolution, but in the chaotic and lively workings of history and politics in general.
The introduction to the book is a perfect example. It sweeps through the entire history of St Petersburg, and with it all of Russia. Miéville covers hundreds of years all without losing sight of small details. Characters and political factions who will remain relevant all the way to the glossary are introduced and developed with a eye to both their personal characters and motivations, and the role they'll play in the grand narrative of history. Amusing anecdotes, small milestones, digressions into historical minutiae all build together into the beginnings of a narrative that, by the time the first chapter arrives, already feels primed to explode in a dozen different directions at once. There are so many moving parts, characters and groups and political ideologies, all jostling to be heard above the din of history and Miéville does an excellent job of giving them all their moment.
The sheer number of things going on, and characters involved can sometimes make for a very dense narrative. I recommend making frequent use of the glossary of important characters and, where that doesn't suffice, using the index or outside sources to frequently remind yourself of who all the important parties are. However, the breathless emotional undercurrent which drives the book makes it infectiously readable. It is very easy to feel engrossed in even seemingly banal details of bureaucratic hair-splitting, letter-writing, and endless committees and proclamations.
This is a (very well narrated) story of one of the most interesting moments in political history, and any writer would be hard-pressed to explore it with the nuance and infectious vitality that Miéville brings to its events. October is a must-read for anyone even vaguely interested not just in the October revolution, but in the chaotic and lively workings of history and politics in general.
Content Warnings
Minor: Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Classism
It feels wrong to tag this with "classism" but I guess it's accurate?
It's a revolution that took place in the midst of war and famine. There are no gory details, but plenty of the expected violence, suffering, and death is mentioned.