The communist system unleashed by the Russian Revolution of 1917 was the greatest political experiment ever conducted. The Revolution promised freedom from the shackles of Imperialism, corruption and exploitation but until its collapse in 1991, the peoples of the vast Soviet empire endured seventy years of misguided socialism and totalitarianism.
The last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, ruled over a vast empire that was backward, impoverished and in some respects resentful of his autocratic rule. Its people demanded reform and change. The effects of the outbreak of war in 1914 finally, in March 1917, brought down the Tsar and the 300-year-old Romanov dynasty.
The Provisional Government that replaced the Tsar proved equally ineffectual at addressing the needs of Russia’s major problems. Only the representatives of the workers, or ‘Soviets’, seemed to understand the problems that lay at the heart of the empire. From the various Soviet parties, it was the Bolsheviks and its leader, Vladimir Lenin, that seized power and established the Soviet Union with its promises of a new socialist utopia. The consequences shaped the entire twentieth century and its ramifications were felt across the world.
This, by Rupert Colley, is the Russian Revolution in an hour.
Only 99p. Buy now from iTunes, Amazon, B&N and other online stores or download audio.
Contents:
- Emancipation
- Nicholas II – the last tsar
- 1905
- The October Manifesto
- War
- February Revolution
- Provisional Government
- Lenin takes control
- The October Revolution
- Civil War
- Red Terror
- ‘Lenin lived, Lenin lives, and Lenin will live’
Readers’ reviews:
“Having studied History up to A’level many moons ago; I decided to buy this as a first purchase on my new Kindle Fire. It’s a very good and simple introduction or refresher for those wanting to read some history without buying large expensive text books. Well worth the 99p.”
“I thought this was an excellent book. It covered the topic in an hour in an objective manner, maintaining my interest throughout. It was well written and factual.”
“Good for general grounding: I’m a history teacher and learnt at the last minute I’d be teaching the history of Russia which I’d never done before. This was an easy, quick read. My mind didn’t drift once (which happens with some history books) and I got a good grounding in the main events of the Russian Rev. For a foundation and a feel of the period it was a good starting point.”
“A Must Read: I had no idea what to expect when I downloaded this book, good or bad. This was a very satisfying read : tightly-packed information, yet very clearly written and narrated. I enjoyed the fact that there is a good amount of info on the years leading to the Revolution giving me a good feel for the social and political background. There are not many superfluous details or anecdotes, as one might expect from an 80 minute-short review of a historical event that spanned over almost a year. Overall a must read for people who, like me, are looking for an introduction on the subject : short, informative, to the point, and paints a good overall picture and, in my case, has triggered the need to read more on the topic.” (Audio book review)
“History in an Hour is a series of books which each deal with a big subject in a short and punchy way to give you the grand overview before you delve into other, far more detailed, books. As with the other books in the series, there is a quick paced overview before a section of biographies about the main people involved in the story along with a timeline of events.”
“If your interested in history you will love this. The two reason I bought this is that I love history and my family came for Russia years ago and I just wanted to know more about how it was for them then. I was not disappointed and it was a really good read and also had photos and timelines when Stalin and the others where in power that was very informative.”
“This is a very brief summary of the history of the Russian revolution, and the events leading up to it. It summarises the history very well, and gives a very informative outline of the period. I highly recommend it for anyone who is curious about the time period but who isn’t a history major.”
“Good read, wished it was longer, but then it wouldn’t be an hour 
”
Arguably no person in history had such a direct and negative impact on the lives of so many as Joseph Stalin. Under the Red Tsar terror knew no limits, it did not discriminate; no one was safe, no institution, no single town or village was immune. Yet, following his death in 1953, Stalin was deeply mourned. He had ‘received the country with a wooden plough, and left it with a nuclear missile shield’. And no-one else, some claimed, could have led the Soviet Union to victory in the Second World War.
