ON THE CENTENARY OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION THAT SHOOK THE WORLD

In 1917 revolution swept through Russia, ending centuries of imperial rule and instigating political and social changes that would change the future of world politics.

Arising out of discontent with the Tsarist autocracy and Lenin’s proclaimed version of a Marxist ideology, the revolutionary period saw a complete overhaul of Russian politics and society and led directly to the ensuing civil war. The Soviet Union eventually became the world’s first communist state and the events of 1917 proved to be one of the turning-points in world history, setting in motion a chain of events which would change the entire course of the twentieth century.

Geoffrey Swain provides a concise yet thorough overview of the revolution and the path to civil war. By looking, with fresh perspectives, on the causes of the revolution, as well as the international response, Swain provides a new interpretation of the events of 1917, published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the revolution. This timely book explores the pivotal historical event that continues to have a lasting impact on humanity.

Geoffrey Swain is an expert on Russian History. He is Alec Nove Chair in Russian and East European Studies at Glasgow University and the author of Russia’s Civil War; Trotsky; Between Stalin and Hitler: Class War and Race War on the Dvina, 1940-46; Eastern Europe since 1945(with Nigel Swain) and Tito: A Biography (I.B.Tauris).