The Russian revolution, 1905-1921

The Russian Revolution, 1905-1921 presents a vivid history of Russia's revolutionary era, focusing on the experiences of individuals as they navigated and shaped the unfolding events. From Bloody Sunday in 1905 to the end of the civil war in 1921, the narrative combines the insights of a professional historian with the immediacy of contemporary journalism. It explores various locations and communities—city streets, peasant villages, and the margins of the empire, including Central Asia and Ukraine—highlighting the diverse voices of men and women, workers, intellectuals, artists, and activists. Key figures such as Vladimir Lenin, Lev Trotsky, and Alexandra Kollontai are featured alongside lesser-known individuals, illustrating a broad spectrum of experiences. Central themes include social, economic, gendered, and ethnic inequalities, as well as power dynamics, resistance, violence, and notions of justice and freedom. Aimed at students and general readers, this history draws heavily on contemporary texts to vividly bring the past to life, emphasizing the interpretations, values, emotions, and aspirations that made these tumultuous times significant for those who lived through them.