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It was the world's greatest revolution that failed to live-up to its promises. And it was a Revolution that had inspired to pen some of the unique biographies, testaments, novels and stories of all time. Our last issue of October reviews six notable works surrounding the Russian Revolution. So readers of the Star: unite.

Reviewing Red October...

Shahriar Feroze
JOURNALIST and author Italo
Calvino once said - A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. It appropriately fits, in the case of John Reed's Ten Days That Shook the World.
Not only is it an adventure like first-person chronicle of the October Revolution, but a classic that still continues to explain and explore the dynamism about the relations and conflicts between an inept oppressive government and its rebellious people. In author's own words, in the relations of a weak government and its rebellious people there comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the masses and every refusal to act excites their contempt. And according to this reviewer, Reed captured the Revolution through his lenses from the latter half of the quote, where refusal to act was finally brewing into a revolution.
During the tumultuous October days of 1917, the author was on an assignment in Russia on behalf of the magazine called The Masses; it extensively portrayed the socialist political ideology. Not surprisingly, the book leans towards the Bolsheviks and their viewpoints. The writer too had admitted it in the preface, but it's the first chronological and dependable English account of the October Revolution penned by an American journalist.
From the build-up of the uprising till Lenin and Bolsheviks seizing power, the book contains verbatim reports on some of the famous speeches delivered by Bolshevik leaders of that time. The reports are also supplemented by comments of many eyewitnesses of pre and post Revolution Russia. Though at the beginning the book was positively received, but within a short span of time, began to draw sharp criticism. Despite all, what makes Ten Days That Shook the World so captivating a read is that, it's perhaps, the first and most earth-shattering account not on the October Revolution but on any Revolution for that matter.
Such became its value to the eyes of the revolutionists that Reed became an overnight hero. Rather amusingly, the book that Lenin desired to be published by the millions of copies while recommending it as a must read for the workers' class across the globe was sharply contested by another Soviet leader: Joseph Stalin. According to the latter the book is
misleading, since as a co-leader of the revolution Leon Trotsky had gained more prominence than him. As luck would have it, Reed's Ten Days That Shook the World with an introduction written by Lenin was banned in the Stalinist Soviet Union.
What is more, in his book Animal Farm George Orwell stated that the British Communist Party, after Reed's death, went even further by producing a carefully garbled version that not only excluded Lenin's introduction and any mentioning of Trotsky, but distorted the original version.
I suggest the readers to go for the unabridged version so that the option for deleting Lenin and Trotsky is always open. (Said with humour) The book that had aroused such intense admiration and also discord - among communists and non-communists -is surely a fascinating read.
No wonder why he was buried at the right place : in Moscow among the prominent Russian socialist politicians.
Our next in line is the award winning work titled A people’s tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924 written by British historian Orlando Figes. The book further examine the famine of 1891-92 and chronicles the Russian Revolution till Lenin's death in 1924. This in-depth historical research sheds light on the reasons that had weakened the Russian empire. The author, from the stance of a political analyst tries to establish the October revolt as mainly a political battle. Portrayal of the panoramic Russian society; its glamour and destruction; political idiosyncrasies of the Russian culture and society never perhaps appeared so vivid. It is narrated rather intellectually. Bulk of the author's final explanation is on the
blunders of key individuals -especially the last Czar, Nicholas II, whom Mr. Figes portrays in an unbecoming manner.
Those who wish to explore the circumstances and failures of the Russian Revolution may opt for it. Some of his analysis may appear contradicting in nature. I personally followed the timing of its publication: 1996 - Much later after the collapse of communism. However, describing the flaws in a failed political ideology and system is usually easier to explain since it failed to deliver its pledges.
What if, had socialism accross the globe succeeded?
Till today, It can't be confirmed, exactly where peasant sympathies of the Tsarist empire actually sympathised; there are few recollections, and those who did publish their accounts were able to do it many years after the Revolution, when the victorious Bolsheviks controlled the printing presses - in an era where history was composed by the victors of the Revolution. Also, Sheila Fitzpatrick's book called The Russian Revolution: 1917-1932 is also a good book that discussed the social transformation caused due to the revolt. Part of the book is also an attempt to rethink of the Soviet past in today's Russia. Compared to Figes's over 900 pages work it's shorter, concise and uses declassified secret information from restricted Soviet archives and unpublished memoirs, this detailed chronology also recounts pivotal events from the February and October revolts of 1917 leading to the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920.
After a first-hand account and intellectual pursuits now it's time for a novel and of course Dr.Zhivago -The epic tale on the life of a fictionalRussian physician Yuri Zhivago . Not only was the original manuscript of the book smuggled out of the then USSR, but also had to be published in Italy. Apart from being a novel it speaks how a Revolution became corrupted and misguided. Boris Pasternak attempts to brand it as an ideological struggle than a political one. The long and intricate plot of the novel, involving many characters is bit of a complex to follow, but is added with a bold and selfdetermining voice of the author's understanding of the Russian Revolution. Falling under the
Doctor Zhivago
historical-cum-romantic genre Dr.Zhivago soon turned into an American tool for provoking dissent in then Soviet Union.
In this regard, The White Guard written by Mikhail Bulgakov is another spectacular read. Its plot explains the fate of a Russian middle class family - the Turbin family. Set in Ukraine during the latter half of 1918 the family is caught up in the chaotic effects of the uprising. It's also the story about the battle over the city of Kiev which was fought byno less than four various armies, engaged in the Russian civil war - the Whites, the Reds, the Imperial German army, and Ukrainian nationalists.
Bulgakov can undeniably be taken as one of the masters of imaginative slices. His drawings, even of minor characters, vibrant description of scenes surely captures the readers mind. Political questions never seemed explicit, and the author also takes an ambivalent stance while expressing his political loyalties. Imagine yourself as a member of the Turbin family to witness the Revolution's socio-political scenes of then Russia.
Also mark that, it's this novel that carried the key ingredients of the legendary play The Days of the Turbins. Believe it or not - Bulgakov's written version for the play, produced by Moscow Art Theatre, entirely overshadowed the book. Being staged for nearly a thousand times one of its ardent admirer was no other than Joseph Stalin. Don't be surprised, Bulgakov too was refused to publish most of his important works during the Stalinist era. The White Guard only got published during Nikita Khrushchev's regime in the midsixties.
VINTAGE BULGAKOV
Guess what comes last in our October review line-up?
It's the famous revolutionary and Marxist Victor Serge's Memoirs of a revolutionary. Apart from narrating a thrilling life on the frontlines; his role in the Revolution; dramatic and first-hand accounts of Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin - Serge explained how the revolution collapsed into despotism and terror.
Resorting to anarchism and independent judgment, Serge joined the Bolsheviks, became close to anumber of socialist leaders despite much anguish at the suppression of the Kronstadt rising by the end of 1920. Inevitably, Serge sided with Trotsky's Left Opposition faction after Lenin's death, though he was never a true disciple of Trotsky. Doggedness in the use of terror and lack of respect for individual freedom were Serge's basic objections to the Soviet regime. Trotsky, Zinoviev or Lenin, none were exempted from his list of condemnation (bold indeed). Amusingly, regardless of all his criticisms, Serge deeply admired the first generation of Bolshevik leaders.
It's the combination of intellectual seriousness and literary expression which holds the book in high esteem.
A lone sentence aptly summarised Serge's political dream and that is: Man must be given his rights, his security, and his value. Without these, there is no socialism. Without these, all is false, bankrupt, and spoiled. If freedom of speech and justice tops your list of human rights then it's an essential read for you.
Apart from the ones reviewed there exists a plethora of brilliant works on the October Revolution. Lenin and Trotsky's autobiographical accounts are rousing by their own standards.Unfortunately; due to this
reviewer's limited reading and space constraints we have reached the end of our 'Red October' review.
In the end, all of the five assessed works have a common message considering the losses of a great revolution. No, I won't say it in my words, but instead, refer to a quote by Victor Serge - We have conquered everything, and everything has slipped out of our grasp.
It's just so true.
The writer is with The Daily Star