Prelude to Revolution: The Petrograd Bolsheviks and the July 1917 Uprising

The Bolsheviks #1

by Alexander Rabinowitch

First published in 1968, this pioneering study of revolutionary events in Petrograd in the summer of 1917 revised the established view of the Bolsheviks as a monolithic party. Rabinowitch documents how the party's pluralistic nature had crucial implications for the outcome of the revolution in October.

Genres: History, Russia, Russian History, Nonfiction, Soviet History, Soviet Union, Russian Revolution

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Alexander Rabinowitch (born 30 August 1934) is an American historian and Professor Emeritus of History at the Indiana University, Bloomington, where he taught from 1968 until 1999, and Affiliated Research Scholar at the St. Petersburg Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences, since 2013. He is recognized internationally as a leading expert on the Bolsheviks, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the Russian Civil War.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explodes the myth of the Bolshevik Party as a "democratic centralist" monolith ruled dictatorially by Lenin. Committees overlapped in authority, published their own newspapers, and sometimes forgot to tell each other they were planning armed demonstrations. Lenin was on vacation when the July uprising broke out.

The party itself was divided between a right wing that thought revolution was far away, and an impatient left wing anxious to take power. Lenin struggled to keep alive the need for revolution while also cautioning against poorly planned actions.

Full of great detail about the organizational work of the Bolsheviks in the Petrograd garrison -- like Lenin dressing down the organizers of the July uprising for not measuring their exact strength before going out in the streets. The real strength of the Bolsheviks was not iron discipline but a democratic culture that allowed them to learn from their mistakes. A great read.

[Nils Van Nieuwenhuyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an essential read next to Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution for anyone who wants to really understand what unfolded leading up to the most significant event in the Twentieth Century. I have already read Trotsky and found an excellent analysis of the political context in it, but this book expanded greatly upon the logistical details of organising demonstrations and militias for self-defence. The greatest strength of this book, however, is its focus on the mass movement itself. The Bolsheviks and Lenin are not painted as the architects of a well-calculated conspiracy to take power. On the contrary, they are shown as agitators trying to tame the wild waves made by the workers and soldiers themselves, who were impatiently awaiting a revolution that would immediately solve their problems. In this way, it gracefully debunks a lot of the misconceptions and myths that surround the October Revolution. It was not — as has already been said — a shrewd coup-d'état masterminded by Lenin, nor was it an indoctrinated mob that followed the Bolshevik party without question. Not even the Bolshevik party itself was a homogenous block but was riddled with contradictions and factions. The uncontrollable impulses of some revolutionary workers and soldiers, of some parts of the Bolshevik party and the anarcho-communists almost lead the movement to disaster during the July Days. The main part of the book treats these events.

The minute descriptions and lively retelling of the heavily shifting balance of power in 'Red Petrograd' make this book a fascinating and thrilling read. Even if I already knew the broad outlines of what would happen, since it is of course just a new scientific perspective on well-known historical events, I was still very excited and curiously awaiting each next chapter.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about the crucial events that unfolded in 1917 and form their own opinion on them. Whether you are a socialist or not and take a sceptical stance toward Lenin and the Bolsheviks, I think anyone will find in this book the necessary details and nuanced circumstances to brush up their understanding of this part of the history of the socialist movement.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only the comprehensive account of the abortive June demonstration and the July Uprising but a great account of the flexible and divided nature of the Bolshevik Party. Also delivers a remarkable feel for those heady days - a great historical effort, especially considering when it was first written.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 1 of 3. Scholarly but quite accessibly written account of the June and July risings that failed but set the stage for the October Revolution. This is an old account but many note it is a classic for a reason. Glad it is still in print!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read on the July days, and a fascinating look inside the specifics of how a revolutionary party navigated worker and soldier uprisings. Puts into context how difficult a lot of decisions are to make in the heat of such tense moments.

[Redpoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to write home about. Disappointing