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Comrade Fox: Low-living in Revolutionary Russia
“I never gave a monkeys for Marxism or Monarchism or Liberalism or Conservatism or Socialism or any ism. I’ve always been leery of anyone brandishing an ism – an excuse to howl at the moon if you ask me. And they’re all moralists too, always got it in for someone else, usually someone like me.” - Archibald Brinsley Fox.
Brinsley Fox, adventurer, shirker, thief, cavalier poseur and all-round bad lot, was never the stuff of revolutionary heroes. But Lenin wasn’t to know that when he invited Fox along to the Russian Revolution...
It is April 1917 when Fox breezes into Petrograd, during the Spring of Hope. He personally hopes to seduce Lenin’s former mistress – the bewitching Inessa Armand – and purloin a Fabergé Egg.
Meanwhile the Russian economy has gone to hell in a handcart. The Great War is being lost hand over fist. The place is falling apart. Yet drink and be merry is the order of the optimistic day; ideal for a man who believes that fun and moral fibre are mutually exclusive.
Alas, the mood of Russia darkens over the months, and Fox’s leisurely life unravels in parallel. Fleeing a brute he cuckolded, Fox charges pillar to post around Russia. From the Eastern Front – the most disastrous front in the history of warfare – into the fateful July Uprising. From a cabal of counter-revolutionaries to a botched break-in at the Catherine Palace. From a lynch mob in a Dark Age village to a bizarre, fledgling republic. From helping ‘Comrade Lenin’ with his ludicrous, little coup to fleeing across country pursued by rabid Red Guards. And on into the final death throes of hope...
Along the way Fox has to face anarchic shoot-outs, violent Cossacks, dangerously desperate women, blithe fanatics, deadly disease, sinister river-gangs, hordes of rapists and even some sensible innocents, wondering where it will all end...
This is a diary of horrors and heroics, written with verve and style, and scant regard for “the luxurious morals of the materially cosseted.”
Brinsley Fox, adventurer, shirker, thief, cavalier poseur and all-round bad lot, was never the stuff of revolutionary heroes. But Lenin wasn’t to know that when he invited Fox along to the Russian Revolution...
It is April 1917 when Fox breezes into Petrograd, during the Spring of Hope. He personally hopes to seduce Lenin’s former mistress – the bewitching Inessa Armand – and purloin a Fabergé Egg.
Meanwhile the Russian economy has gone to hell in a handcart. The Great War is being lost hand over fist. The place is falling apart. Yet drink and be merry is the order of the optimistic day; ideal for a man who believes that fun and moral fibre are mutually exclusive.
Alas, the mood of Russia darkens over the months, and Fox’s leisurely life unravels in parallel. Fleeing a brute he cuckolded, Fox charges pillar to post around Russia. From the Eastern Front – the most disastrous front in the history of warfare – into the fateful July Uprising. From a cabal of counter-revolutionaries to a botched break-in at the Catherine Palace. From a lynch mob in a Dark Age village to a bizarre, fledgling republic. From helping ‘Comrade Lenin’ with his ludicrous, little coup to fleeing across country pursued by rabid Red Guards. And on into the final death throes of hope...
Along the way Fox has to face anarchic shoot-outs, violent Cossacks, dangerously desperate women, blithe fanatics, deadly disease, sinister river-gangs, hordes of rapists and even some sensible innocents, wondering where it will all end...
This is a diary of horrors and heroics, written with verve and style, and scant regard for “the luxurious morals of the materially cosseted.”
- GenresHistorical FictionRussia
533 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2011
12 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 1, 2014
This is an evocative portrayal of the Russian Revolutionary; tender and brutal, tragic and laugh-out-loud funny. The first person narrator, Archibald Brinsley Fox, is excellent company (Flashman but ballsier and more venal).
His love for Lenin's girlfriend is a real period piece; she is a romantic headstrong revolutionary and he is dazzled, while loathing 'her verbiage.'
Fox's street level view of the October Revolution squares with all the known accounts, and rings out as authentically and accurate as any. Despite the easy conversational style of writing, this is intelligent, well-researched history as it's happening.
His love for Lenin's girlfriend is a real period piece; she is a romantic headstrong revolutionary and he is dazzled, while loathing 'her verbiage.'
Fox's street level view of the October Revolution squares with all the known accounts, and rings out as authentically and accurate as any. Despite the easy conversational style of writing, this is intelligent, well-researched history as it's happening.
December 8, 2013
Tongue-in-cheek and loaded with British public school sarcasm journal accounts of Archie Fox's adventures and observations in 1916 Revolutionary Russia at "Uncle Ilyich" Lenin's side. All for the love of Inessa Arnaud, Lenin's purported mistress. Some awesome scenes of history in the making and how (in the author's opinion) a dry, uncharismatic man would succeed in swaying millions in the chaos following the end of the old regime and the Tsar's ouster. Fox's humorous, often sardonic commentary helps lighten this otherwise heavy chapter in Russian history.
Archibald Fox accompanies Lenin in a closed carriage on the latter's return to Russia. Thus Archie becomes a first-hand witness to important happenings in St Petersburg, on the Russian Front, in Moscow, and at Lenin's side despite his dislike for Uncle Ilyich and attempts to thwart his return to power. He has personal insights into a range of people's feelings, lifestyles, and loyalties at a time when their world is changing beyond recognition such as a memorable visit to a village - a throw back to the Middle Ages, an afternoon in conversation with the ousted Tsar, and the battle for power between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. The plot follows unlikely paths with Archie conveniently set in the right place at the right moment, and having conversations with people in the know as well as an extraordinary amount of good fortune. This book is a romp, a serious account, an insightful version of historical events - all of these and more, perhaps too much as Archie and his antics grow tiresome toward the end.
Archibald Fox accompanies Lenin in a closed carriage on the latter's return to Russia. Thus Archie becomes a first-hand witness to important happenings in St Petersburg, on the Russian Front, in Moscow, and at Lenin's side despite his dislike for Uncle Ilyich and attempts to thwart his return to power. He has personal insights into a range of people's feelings, lifestyles, and loyalties at a time when their world is changing beyond recognition such as a memorable visit to a village - a throw back to the Middle Ages, an afternoon in conversation with the ousted Tsar, and the battle for power between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. The plot follows unlikely paths with Archie conveniently set in the right place at the right moment, and having conversations with people in the know as well as an extraordinary amount of good fortune. This book is a romp, a serious account, an insightful version of historical events - all of these and more, perhaps too much as Archie and his antics grow tiresome toward the end.
October 25, 2013
I have very mixed feelings about this. I honestly didn't think I was going to finish it. It's trying to be Flashman-ish, where you have a not-so-heroic hero caught up in historic events and relating them with an ironic, bawdy twist. But Fox is no Flashy and Hennessey is no George MacDonald Fraser. The perspective on the Russian Revolution is fascinating, and probably captures the reality of the time better than any history book. Where it fails is that Flashman always has a rollicking story filled with action and excitement, and uses the historical setting for extra depth: Fox, on the other hand, doesn't actually do much, and the story is weak. It's a clever way to tell the story of Bolshevism, but it lacks the fire and momentum that would make it fun to read. And, ultimately, it's only the start of the story: the book ends just as we're getting to meet the most intriguing character. Flashman novels were at least complete stories.
In addition, it desperately needs an proofreader to deal with the typos and other mistakes. So, strong on historical detail, but disappointing in many other ways. I don't think I'll bother with any more of the series.
In addition, it desperately needs an proofreader to deal with the typos and other mistakes. So, strong on historical detail, but disappointing in many other ways. I don't think I'll bother with any more of the series.
November 18, 2014
This is, what I believe, is a truly fine novel. It opens in Switzerland where Archie Fox is a battle-weary deserter from the Western Front. He soon falls in love with Lenin's former mistress, Inessa Armand, who doesn't take him seriously at all. The action moves to Revolutionary Russia and the incredible events which made 1917 a year that shook the world.
Fox hardly sees Inessa in Russia where he is seduced by the wild atmosphere; fantastically realised with excellent research, witty observations and quite literary writing on occasion. With a backdrop of endless menace, rape, murder, decadence, mob rule and nasty politics, this is a novel which thrills and shocks. Everything is played out in that unnerving space where tragedy meets comedy.
It is an unusual achievement, a treat for anyone who likes their history horrible, true to haphazard life and yet not bereft of heroics.
Fox hardly sees Inessa in Russia where he is seduced by the wild atmosphere; fantastically realised with excellent research, witty observations and quite literary writing on occasion. With a backdrop of endless menace, rape, murder, decadence, mob rule and nasty politics, this is a novel which thrills and shocks. Everything is played out in that unnerving space where tragedy meets comedy.
It is an unusual achievement, a treat for anyone who likes their history horrible, true to haphazard life and yet not bereft of heroics.
February 8, 2014
Comrade Fox is a fun novel, a tour of revolutionary Russia through the eyes of young Archibald Fox, a fictional British dilettante. The knowledge of and feel for the history is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the book, with the sights, sounds and even smells of the anarchy of 1917 St Petersburg vividly described, and the sheer unlikeliness of Lenin's eventual triumph accurately captured. Fox himself is an aspiring Flashman, a drinker and a womaniser but - endearingly - he never quite lives down to his own caddish self-image. Recommended if you would like to be entertained while learning more about this turbulent, fascinating, sad period of history.
September 23, 2018
This is a great account of the revolution first hand
this first hand account of the Russian revolution is just proof that fact is stranger than fiction. Momentous events happen seemingly by chance but all the right conditions must exist for it to happen and the right person must be at the right place also. I love this author and all his immorality and charms. what a wonderful life.
this first hand account of the Russian revolution is just proof that fact is stranger than fiction. Momentous events happen seemingly by chance but all the right conditions must exist for it to happen and the right person must be at the right place also. I love this author and all his immorality and charms. what a wonderful life.
April 12, 2014
Gave up after about 10 pages. Excruciatingly bad in so many ways.
November 9, 2013
Too wordy and all over the place.
January 18, 2014
A colorful and constantly entertaining account of the momentous events in Revolutionary Russia. Absolutely fascinating, very funny and very frightening.
November 27, 2017
Good book
I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel, Shelley MA
I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel, Shelley MA
October 19, 2013
Read the book. This author has done an excellent job of showing that Russia and its citizens are multifaceted and defy containment or explanation. The book is both witty and serious. It is about Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution and WWI, occurring all in the same timeline. Those subjects are as huge as Russia herself. I love reading about Russian history because I want inside the psyche of the Russian people. Alas, Russia remains reclusive and closed to me, but in this book the door was opened a little wider than ever before. I caught a glimpse of Russia through the eyes of Archie Fox, a friend to Lenin and a most lovable and degenerate man if ever there was one.
Thank you, Mr. Hennessey, for a good read.
Thank you, Mr. Hennessey, for a good read.
December 4, 2013
Much redundancy in the journals the main characher Archie Fos is writing. Some parts boring and some quite interesting. Lover of historical fiction, I found Lenin becoming the leader of communism in Russia as the character portrayed in Archie's journal quite surprising. There is an excellent Appendix to the book that I found quite informative.
July 20, 2014
Another fantastic book from Stewart Hennessey, a must read for all people who enjoy historical fiction as well as satire and comedy, beautifully written in an amusing style that has you turning the pages wanting to find out what happens next in the often dangerous adventures of Comrade Fox.
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February 1, 2017Rather an interesting take..
Want to read
October 12, 2013kindle cloud
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews