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By Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn August 1914: A Novel (The Red Wheel I)
August 1914( A Novel (the Red Wheel I)) <> Paperback <> AleksandrSolzhenitsyn <> FarrarStrausGiroux
Paperback
Published August 31, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 5, 2024
Very interesting retelling of Russian war history with Prussia.
Talks about the differences in structure between the two Armies. How the Germans had organized motor ambulances and good hospitals.
How poor organization & early mobilization and deployment before the Russian army was in full strength along with basics of bad footwear resulting in troops carrying boots around neck rather than wearing them.
Germans appeared to have faster communication & command with telegrams with Russian mail being very slow due to censorship.
Talks about looting in Prussia & command unsure how to respond to troops that are peasants in uniform. Talks about how the Army pays tribute to gifted man only when he’s grasping his superiors bat-ton & receiving blows whilst shacked and suppressed into conformity.
Mentions St George significantly as the regimental colour in some instances of different regiments & burying regiments colour rather than captured by enemy in battle.
The Russians continued throwing untrained troops into battle and some Generals badges seen as mark of incompetence.
The book paints desperate period of this era of Russian history with some real suffering and hardships for the poorest of the Russian people.
A good read but rather long of era of people that must have lived a turbulent and hard life.
Talks about the differences in structure between the two Armies. How the Germans had organized motor ambulances and good hospitals.
How poor organization & early mobilization and deployment before the Russian army was in full strength along with basics of bad footwear resulting in troops carrying boots around neck rather than wearing them.
Germans appeared to have faster communication & command with telegrams with Russian mail being very slow due to censorship.
Talks about looting in Prussia & command unsure how to respond to troops that are peasants in uniform. Talks about how the Army pays tribute to gifted man only when he’s grasping his superiors bat-ton & receiving blows whilst shacked and suppressed into conformity.
Mentions St George significantly as the regimental colour in some instances of different regiments & burying regiments colour rather than captured by enemy in battle.
The Russians continued throwing untrained troops into battle and some Generals badges seen as mark of incompetence.
The book paints desperate period of this era of Russian history with some real suffering and hardships for the poorest of the Russian people.
A good read but rather long of era of people that must have lived a turbulent and hard life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2025
4.5 Stars, rounded up to 5.
Initially, I had read 33% of this book only to put it down due to lack of contextual grasp. I did research on the outbreak of WW1 to help connect some dots the writer assumes the reader is familiar with heading into the text. With that bit of institutional knowledge established, it made for excellent consumption.
Part military history, part political history, part reflection. Much like other reviews have hinted. Vorotyntsev is the hero we need but don't deserve. Nikolai was never meant to be emperor, as he only had the constitution to be a wallflower, lower-level prince of the realm. Stolypin is the equivalent of Ned Stark of Russian politics: great ideas but no aptitude for diplomacy and the art of deal-making.
I look forward to starting 1916 next in the series!
Initially, I had read 33% of this book only to put it down due to lack of contextual grasp. I did research on the outbreak of WW1 to help connect some dots the writer assumes the reader is familiar with heading into the text. With that bit of institutional knowledge established, it made for excellent consumption.
Part military history, part political history, part reflection. Much like other reviews have hinted. Vorotyntsev is the hero we need but don't deserve. Nikolai was never meant to be emperor, as he only had the constitution to be a wallflower, lower-level prince of the realm. Stolypin is the equivalent of Ned Stark of Russian politics: great ideas but no aptitude for diplomacy and the art of deal-making.
I look forward to starting 1916 next in the series!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews