Overview

The Russian Revolution may well be the most misunderstood event in modern history. In this fast-paced introduction, Neil Faulkner debunks the myths that continue to shroud it, showing how a mass movement of millions, organised in democratic assemblies, mobilised for militant action and destroyed a regime of landlords, profiteers and warmongers. Faulkner rejects caricatures of Lenin and the Bolsheviks as authoritarian conspirators, 'democratic-centralists' or the progenitors of Stalinist dictatorship; though short-lived, the Revolution of October 1917 was an explosion of democracy and creativity. Crushed by bloody counter-revolution, its socialist vision was ultimately displaced by a monstrous form of bureaucratic state-capitalism. Laced with first-hand testimony, this history rescues the democratic essence of the revolution from its detractors and deniers, offering a perfect primer for the modern reader. Published in partnership with the Left Book Club.

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9780745399034

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Reviews

The experience and example of Russia in 1917 has never been more relevant than in the troubled times we are living through today. The legacy of the Revolution's centenary is going to be fiercely fought over with the political right determined to discredit the very idea of social revolution, indeed to make it unthinkable. A People's History of the Russian Revolution, written by one of the finest historian's on the Left, Neil Faulkner, is a vital contribution to the debate, an essential defence of the revolutionary experience. It is to be wholeheartedly welcomed. -- John Newsinger, Professor of Modern History, Bath Spa University, author of The Blood Never Dried: A People's History of the British Empire (2006) A People's History of the Russian Revolution reeks of the vodka, blood, and gunpowder of one of the most vital and important periods in human history. Though the Revolution is usually characterised through a handful of heroes and heroines, this book shows such upheaval can only be achieved when millions of people realise they should be more than factory and cannon-fodder for the rich. A powerful book for an anniversary those in charge would rather we forgot. -- Tansy E. Hoskins, author of Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion (Pluto, 2014) Among the countless books which are beginning to appear as the centenary of the Russian Revolution approaches, there is a real need for a clear, historically reliable popular account from a socialist perspective. Neil Faulkner's People's History is that account. Arguing against both right-wing myths that reduce October to a mere coup, and left-sectarian myths that treat of the Bolshevik party as an infallible 'democratic centralist' monolithic, Faulkner forcefully reminds us that the early years of the Russian Revolution saw one of the greatest explosions of mass democracy in human history. -- Neil Davidson, author of We Cannot Escape History: Nations, States, and Revolutions (Haymarket, 2015)

The experience and example of Russia in 1917 has never been more relevant than in the troubled times we are living through today. The legacy of the Revolution's centenary is going to be fiercely fought over with the political right determined to discredit the very idea of social revolution, indeed to make it unthinkable. A People's History of the Russian Revolution, written by one of the finest historian's on the Left, Neil Faulkner, is a vital contribution to the debate, an essential defence of the revolutionary experience. It is to be wholeheartedly welcomed. -- John Newsinger, Professor of Modern History, Bath Spa University, author of The Blood Never Dried: A People's History of the British Empire (2006) A People's History of the Russian Revolution reeks of the vodka, blood, and gunpowder of one of the most vital and important periods in human history. Though the Revolution is usually characterised through a handful of heroes and heroines, this book shows such upheaval can only be achieved when millions of people realise they should be more than factory and cannon-fodder for the rich. A powerful book for an anniversary those in charge would rather we forgot. -- Tansy E. Hoskins, author of Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion (Pluto, 2014)

'A People's History of the Russian Revolution, written by one of the finest historians on the left, is a vital contribution to the debate over the legacy of the Revolution and an essential defence of the revolutionary experience.' -- John Newsinger, author of The Blood Never Dried: A People's History of the British Empire 'Among the countless books which are beginning to appear as the centenary of the Russian Revolution approaches, there is a real need for a clear, historically reliable popular account from a socialist perspective. Neil Faulkner's A People's History is that account.' -- Neil Davidson, author of We Cannot Escape History: Nations, States, and Revolutions (Haymarket, 2015) 'A People's History of the Russian Revolution reeks of the vodka, blood, and gunpowder of one of the most vital and important periods in human history. It is a powerful book for an anniversary those in charge would rather we forgot.' -- Tansy E. Hoskins, author of Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion (Pluto, 2014)

'A People's History of the Russian Revolution, written by one of the finest historians on the left, is a vital contribution to the debate over the legacy of the Revolution and an essential defence of the revolutionary experience.' -- John Newsinger, author of The Blood Never Dried: A People's History of the British Empire 'Among the countless books which are beginning to appear as the centenary of the Russian Revolution approaches, there is a real need for a clear, historically reliable popular account from a socialist perspective. Neil Faulkner's A People's History is that account.' -- Neil Davidson, author of We Cannot Escape History: Nations, States, and Revolutions (Haymarket, 2015) 'A People's History of the Russian Revolution reeks of the vodka, blood, and gunpowder of one of the most vital and important periods in human history. It is a powerful book for an anniversary those in charge would rather we forgot.' -- Tansy E. Hoskins, author of Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion (Pluto, 2014) 'Vivid and readable ... A valuable perspective on a world-shaking event' -- Karen Shook, Times Higher Education

'A very important contribution ... Very well-written [and] readable' -- International Journal of Russian Studies 'Lively, sometimes contentious, and very readable' -- Manchester Review of Books 'Vivid and readable ... A valuable perspective on a world-shaking event' -- Karen Shook, Times Higher Education 'Reeks of the vodka, blood, and gunpowder of one of the most vital and important periods in human history. It is a powerful book for an anniversary those in charge would rather we forgot' -- Tansy E. Hoskins, author of Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion (Pluto, 2014) 'Among the countless books which are beginning to appear as the centenary of the Russian Revolution approaches, there is a real need for a clear, historically reliable popular account from a socialist perspective. Neil Faulkner's A People's History is that account.' -- Neil Davidson, author of We Cannot Escape History: Nations, States, and Revolutions (Haymarket, 2015) 'A People's History of the Russian Revolution, written by one of the finest historians on the left, is a vital contribution to the debate over the legacy of the Revolution and an essential defence of the revolutionary experience' -- John Newsinger, author of The Blood Never Dried: A People's History of the British Empire

Author Information

Neil Faulkner was a historian and archaeologist. He is the author of numerous books, including A Radical History of the World, A People's History of the Russian Revolution and Lawrence of Arabia's War.

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