Others have variously categorised figes as a liberalconservative or a revisionist. Orlando figes, a peoples tragedy, lays out a panorama of russian society on the eve of the revolution, and then narrates the story of how these social forces are erased so violently. It is still the most vital and inspiring record of the russian revolution ever published. A people s tragedy by orlando figes and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Figes demonstrates that, whatever the speculations of counterfactual history, in practice the tsarist system was doomed by its defects among them, a tsar spectacularly unqualified to rule. Aug 15, 2018 a peoples tragedy is a work of magisterial scholarship. Vast in scope, exhaustive in original research, written with passion, narrative. He is professor of history at birkbeck college, university of london. Feb 15, 2017 orlando figes is professor of history at birkbeck college, university of london. Vast in scope, based on exhaustive original research, and written with passion, narrative skill and human sympathy, this book offers an account of the russian revolution for a new generation. As well as being a stunning account of the russian revolution, the book doubles up as a doorstop. Vast in scope, exhaustive in original research, written with passion, narrative skill, and human sympathy, a peoples tragedy is a profound account of the russian revolution for a.
Orlando figes is the prizewinning author of a peoples tragedy and natashas dance. A peoples tragedy by orlando figes, 97818479245, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Unrivalled and wholly immersive, orlando figes s a peoples tragedy is a panorama of russian society on the eve of the revolution and the story of its violent erasure 100th anniversary edition includes new introduction in this acclaimed account, figes follows workers, soldiers and peasants as their world is consumed by revolution. A peoples tragedy this multiaward book is history on an epic yet human scale. Unrivalled in scope and brimming with human drama, a peoples tragedy is the most vivid, moving and comprehensive history of the russian revolution available today.
In 2008, the times literary supplement listed it as one of the hundred most influential books since the war. It succeeds handsomely as an engrossing account of the revolution, but falls short of its implicit goal of resolving this great historiographical debate. Eric hobsbawm out of the great dark whale lrb 31 october 1996. The russian revolution, 18911924 by figes, orlando and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Before proceeding, however, i would like to point out that this massive 800page masterpiece can only be considered introductory by. The readers tragedy to a peoples tragedy is that the book itself is a difficult physical presence. A peoples tragedy shows clearly that the revolution of 1917. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
Figes first major book, a peoples tragedy, was published in 1996. A peoples tragedy by orlando figes this multiaward book is history on an epic yet human scale. First published in 1996, it chronicles russian history from the famine of 18911892, to the death of lenin in 1924, when the basic elements of the stalinist regime the oneparty state, the system of terror and the cult of the personality were all in place. Orlando figes narrative flair carries the reader throughout his lengthy tome. Orlando figes in trouble again for gross inaccuracies and. Andrew solomon says that nobody could fail to be impressed by orlando figes a peoples tragedy but 924 weighty pages dont necessarily add up to a good book 6 october 1996. A peoples tragedy will do more to help us undersand the russian revolution than any other book i know. Orlando figes is a professor at birkbeck college, university of london, and former. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
A peoples tragedy by orlando figes commentary magazine. Vast in scope, exhaustive in original research, written with passion, narrative skill, and human sympathy, a peoples tragedy offers a profound account of. Born in london in 1959, he was previously a lecturer in history and fellow of trinity college, cambridge. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in australia. About the author 1997 orlando figes is a professor at birkbeck college, university of london, and former university lecturer in history at cambridge. Orlando figes, a people s tragedy, lays out a panorama of russian society on the eve of the revolution, and then narrates the story of how these social forces are erased so violently. The russian revolution 18911924 01 by figes, orlando isbn. These are not simply factual mistakes although there are.
I literally had to put it down every so often because the sheer tragedy of what i was reading was more than i could bear. A brilliant history of the russian revolution from the onset of the revolutionary crisis to the period when the basic institutions of the stalinist regime were in place. Unrivalled and wholly immersive, orlando figess a peoples. The russian revolution, 18911924 new ed by orlando figes isbn. A peoples tragedy the russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes part 66 the total duration of this audiobook is 47 hours. The winner of several literary and history awards, it chronicles the history of russia from its devastating 1891 famine through to 1924. I hope that in its wake its readers rankings would be less upbeat. The russian people, however, seem to have learned one lesson from their tragedy that escapes mr. Vast in scope, exhaustive in original research, written with passion, narrative skill, and human sympathy, a peoples tragedy offers a profound account of the russian revolution for a new generation. The russian revolution 18911924 centenary edition with new introduction figes, orlando on. Unrivalled and wholly immersive, orlando figess a peoples tragedy is a panorama of russian society on the eve of the revolution and the story of its violent erasure 100th anniversary edition includes new introduction in this acclaimed account, figes follows workers, soldiers and peasants as their world is consumed by revolution. Orlando figes is the author of eight books on russia that have been translated into twentyseven languages. Born in london in 1959, he graduated with a doublestarred first in history from gonville and caius college, cambridge, in 1982.
In the detail that he gives to this vast canvas, in his insight into the russian people, in the strength of his narrative, and in the human dimension that he gives to the story, with the lives of significant characters traced over lengthy periods of time, figes has written an incomparable book. A peoples tragedy is a work of magisterial scholarship. Vast in scope, based on exhaustive original research, and written with passion, narrative skill and human sympathy, a peoples tragedy is the definitive account of the russian revolution for a new generation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes, in very good condition. Orlando figes is an outstanding historian and writer, he brings distant history so close that you could feel its heartbeat. He did it with the russian revolution in a people s tragedy, and he does it again in the europeans. Smith literary award, and the longmanhistory today book of the year award.
A history of the russian revolution by figes, orlando and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Feb, 2020 a people s tragedy the russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes part 36 the total duration of this audiobook is 47 hours. I have read many books about the russian revolution, but no book has the sweep, the clarity, the balance, and the heartbreak of this. A peoples tragedy by orlando figes penguin books australia. Orlando figes is a british academic and author, whose specialist area is russian history. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
Orlando figes is the prizewinning author of a peoples tragedy and. In 1996, orlando figes published a peoples tragedy. Unlike schamas citizens, however, a peoples tragedy asks to be judged not only as dramatic narrative, but as historical analysis. It combines social and political history and interweaves through the public narrative the personal. I found orlando figes a peoples tragedy to be an excellent introduction on the topic of the russian revolution. A peoples tragedy the russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes part 36 the total duration of this audiobook is 47 hours.
A british historian, orlando figes, has now entered the fray with a peoples tragedy, a 900page history of the russian debacle. The russian revolution 1891 1924 01 by figes, orlando isbn. A people s tragedy by orlando figes, first edition. Orlando figes has written a marvelous account of one of historys greatest tragedies, and his book will stand for some time as a standard of historical scholarship. Orlando figes in trouble again for gross inaccuracies.
Feb 17, 2020 a people s tragedy the russian revolution 18911924 by orlando figes part 66 the total duration of this audiobook is 47 hours. Figes is the author of the seminal work on the russian revolution, a peoples tragedy, and natashas dance, a cultural history of russia. Written in a narrative style that captures both the scope and detail of the russian revolution, orlando figess history is certain to become one of the most. This is a vital article published recently in the nation about this controversial book and why it was not published in russia after two attempts by different publishers. Feb 28, 2017 a peoples tragedy by orlando figes, 97818479245, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Out of the great dark whale eric hobsbawm 2814 words. It accused the distinguished russian scholar of inaccuracy, near plagiarism and. The russian revolution 18911924 centenary edition with new introduction. A peoples tragedy is an awardwinning book written by british historian orlando figes. Elaborately researched, rigorously structured, coherently argued, it presents an. He did it with the russian revolution in a peoples tragedy, and he does it again in the europeans. Orlando figes has 15 books on goodreads with 63098 ratings. They began in 1997, with his book a peoples tragedy, in which the harvard historian richard pipes found scholarly shortcomings. It succeeds handsomely as an engrossing account of the revolution, but falls short of its implicit.
On the brink of the 100th anniversary of the russian revolution, read the most vivid, moving, and comprehensive history of the events that changed the world it is history on an epic yet human scale. Translated into over twenty languages, a peoples tragedy is a panoramic history of the revolution from the famine of 1891 to the death of lenin in 1924. The russian revolution centenary edition with new introduction. Orlando figes narrative flair carries the reader throughout his. A peoples tragedy by orlando figes the 591st greatest. Orlando figes is professor of history at birkbeck college, university of london. A peoples tragedy received the wolfson prize, the ncr book award, the w. The russian revolution 18911924, orlando figes a peoples tragedy. Nobody could fail to be impressed by orlando figes a peoples tragedy. Norman stone, the sunday times london an engagingly written and wellresearched book.
393 42 1020 1392 360 244 332 220 849 318 653 1085 1109 167 934 419 260 11 1582 487 10 1442 1474 249 1435 290 1229 166 436 909