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Voices in Exile: The Decembrist Memoirs
The 14th of December, 1825, saw a unique rising among Russian upper classes against Tsarist autocracy. This book offers selections from the memoirs of eight leading participants in that abortive insurrection, and presents the first extensive translation in any Western European language of their eye-witness accounts. Each stage of the rising, from its clandestine beginnings, through the brief and ill-fated revolt, to the trial, imprisonment, and exile to Siberia of the noble dissidents is recalled by a Decembrist who had been well-placed to observe the events he describes.
Although united in their opposition to autocracy, [...] each reacted differently to their common failure. Some went mad or died, while others lived to make real contributions to the communities they were forced to adopt as homes in their exile.
- [From the front cover inside flap]
Although united in their opposition to autocracy, [...] each reacted differently to their common failure. Some went mad or died, while others lived to make real contributions to the communities they were forced to adopt as homes in their exile.
- [From the front cover inside flap]
381 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
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July 18, 2026
This could be the most unknown book I have ever read. Even my books are better known than this book!
Glynn Barratt, working as an editor, has compiled together a collection of writings written by several of the revolutionists who were some of the first to ever stand against the reigning Russian monarchy back in December of 1825, long before the Bolsheviks had another go at it almost 90 years later. Where the October Revolution of 1917 succeeded, despite slaughtering an innocent family, the December Revolution of 1825 failed spectacularly, and sent it's main protagonists, either to the gallows to be hung, or off to Siberia for hard labour. Somewhat unfairly, I would say, considering - most of whom were a part of the noble class - their main goal was to have the monarchy actually serve the less enfranchised rather than itself. A noble desire ruined by poor leadership.
The book is separated into 9 sections plus an Appendix. Rather than presenting each memoirist's writings separately, they are all interspersed to create a timeline of events using selections that best give insight to that moment, so a reader never gets stuck with one author's voice for long.
The first section, 'A Setting', gives insight into where the selected memoirists gained some of their political radicalism from, or more specifically, how they entered into the positions that they were in immediately before the uprising. What becomes apparent later on in the book, as the writers reflect on their ideas and actions, is that revolution was already in the air: both the American Revolution and the French Revolution having been reported and talked about among the Russian gentry. What follows is 3 separate accounts of the rising that, at times feels confusing, which reflects, perhaps, the confusion that was happening - there was no order of command, which meant that when the person who was supposed to be in charge wasn't giving orders, no one else was sure what to do. Confusion reigned, and the insurrectionists were beaten back.
The Aftermath, The Trial, and The Fortress entries show a clearly disgraced and massively disappointed Nicholas I, who knew a good number of the officers and noblemen who had been a part of The Secret Society hatching plans to eventually overthrow the autocracy. The Trial was hardly a trial, but an attempt to get those caught to make confessions, but all of them refused to implicate any one of their fellows and to fully accept the verdict handed to them: imprisonment and then sentencing. And what comes through in the 'testimonies' demanded by the commission to investigate their motivations, is an honest truth and steadfastness to ideals:
While 5 were hung, the rest were forced into exile having to travel to Siberia all the way from Saint Petersburg. But instead of hard labour, quite a few were treated with respect and eventually settled in outlying areas once their sentence had been served to live out their lives with greater knowledge, understanding and dignity. What is most surprising, is that a number of wives requested to join them! But not all. It is noted that some wives left their exiled husbands and remarried. And this is some of the most interesting details of the memoirs - how they settled, how the husbands and wives couldn't live together but were only allowed to visit each other.
The journey to Siberia wasn't without its trials, but also brought appreciation for those who lived beyond the immediate oppression of the monarchy:
The move to Siberia turned out to be a positive life-changing event for some of them:
There's even a moment when the thoughts of one Decembrist about the convicts that were already there, seems to harken forward to Dostoevsky's own thoughts expressed in The House of the Dead
An absolutely essential piece of Russian history from the voices of the people involved in it. While the three great world revolutions get all the attention, it must not be forgotten that some of these minor ones were either spurred on by those, or stand as the first testament of a people wanting change in the aftermath of those. Essential also because, even though there is a certain amount of detail lost because it is individuals telling their own stories long after, the accounts still give the reader insight to every stage of a Russian convicts exile to Siberia, the monarchy at the time, and the ability of humans to adapt and live successfully with change.
I wish I had taken more notes.
* * *
I picked this book up out of about 10 or so boxes of books that were being thrown out by a secondhand shop located in Hamilton, New Zealand, in the suburb of Claudelands. The shop had too many books and couldn't sell them so was giving them away before they chucked them in the dump. I live in my car, and don't have room to hold more than one box of books, and already have about 20 in my possession waiting to be read. The inside page has a signed dedication by the editor:
Voices in Exile is a book I am glad that I found and saved from destruction, and one I will definitely will be holding onto.
Glynn Barratt, working as an editor, has compiled together a collection of writings written by several of the revolutionists who were some of the first to ever stand against the reigning Russian monarchy back in December of 1825, long before the Bolsheviks had another go at it almost 90 years later. Where the October Revolution of 1917 succeeded, despite slaughtering an innocent family, the December Revolution of 1825 failed spectacularly, and sent it's main protagonists, either to the gallows to be hung, or off to Siberia for hard labour. Somewhat unfairly, I would say, considering - most of whom were a part of the noble class - their main goal was to have the monarchy actually serve the less enfranchised rather than itself. A noble desire ruined by poor leadership.
The book is separated into 9 sections plus an Appendix. Rather than presenting each memoirist's writings separately, they are all interspersed to create a timeline of events using selections that best give insight to that moment, so a reader never gets stuck with one author's voice for long.
The first section, 'A Setting', gives insight into where the selected memoirists gained some of their political radicalism from, or more specifically, how they entered into the positions that they were in immediately before the uprising. What becomes apparent later on in the book, as the writers reflect on their ideas and actions, is that revolution was already in the air: both the American Revolution and the French Revolution having been reported and talked about among the Russian gentry. What follows is 3 separate accounts of the rising that, at times feels confusing, which reflects, perhaps, the confusion that was happening - there was no order of command, which meant that when the person who was supposed to be in charge wasn't giving orders, no one else was sure what to do. Confusion reigned, and the insurrectionists were beaten back.
The Aftermath, The Trial, and The Fortress entries show a clearly disgraced and massively disappointed Nicholas I, who knew a good number of the officers and noblemen who had been a part of The Secret Society hatching plans to eventually overthrow the autocracy. The Trial was hardly a trial, but an attempt to get those caught to make confessions, but all of them refused to implicate any one of their fellows and to fully accept the verdict handed to them: imprisonment and then sentencing. And what comes through in the 'testimonies' demanded by the commission to investigate their motivations, is an honest truth and steadfastness to ideals:
The Trial: "No one imparted free thinking or liberal ideas to me. Having read Greek and Roman history and the lives of great men by Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos since my childhood, love of freedom and of popular sovereignty had been implanted in me. In later years, the cruelty shown by commanding officers towards subordinates nourished that love in me, and fanned it by the hour. [...] The oppression, violence, and injustice, shown by landlords towards their peasants always prompted similar feelings in me and strengthened my liberal ideas. [...] I made it a rule to always seek the truth. 'The general good is the highest law' - on this maxim rested my religion and my ethics.
- P. I. Borisov; page 149
While 5 were hung, the rest were forced into exile having to travel to Siberia all the way from Saint Petersburg. But instead of hard labour, quite a few were treated with respect and eventually settled in outlying areas once their sentence had been served to live out their lives with greater knowledge, understanding and dignity. What is most surprising, is that a number of wives requested to join them! But not all. It is noted that some wives left their exiled husbands and remarried. And this is some of the most interesting details of the memoirs - how they settled, how the husbands and wives couldn't live together but were only allowed to visit each other.
We had been one year in the new prison when I was obliged to part with my wife, as the time of her confinement was approaching. She hired a house in which Princess Trubetskaya had lived until her own was finished. One week before the confinement, I was allowed to leave the prison and remain with her; a sentry was posted in front of our house and did nothing but accompany me when I had to go to work or to the mill. [after the birth of his son] As soon as my wife could leave her bed, I was obliged to leave her by herself and return to my prison. ... I should mention that seven of my comrades were engaged men whose brides did not follow them out, and that eight of our married men, whose wives had stayed behind, had to support the awful extra grief of hearing that their wives had married others. The impression made by this news was deepened by the spectacle of ladies who had followed their husbands through misery and exile, and who were not only models of conjugal devotion but the greatest blessings to their husbands and to all of us.
- Baron A. E. Rozen; pages 301/302
The journey to Siberia wasn't without its trials, but also brought appreciation for those who lived beyond the immediate oppression of the monarchy:
The Further we moved into the country, the more it gained in my eyes. The common people seemed more free, more skillful, even better educated than our own peasants ... here they better appreciate human dignity.
- N. V. Basargin
The move to Siberia turned out to be a positive life-changing event for some of them:
Both the situation and the climate of Chita were excellent. The luxuriance of the plant growth was extraordinary; everything that grew there reached amazing proportions. The air was so good for me especially that nowhere else and never before had I enjoyed such health. Having a frail and feeble constitution, I seemed to gain new strength each day, and finally became so strong that I was practically another person.
- N. V. Basargin; Page 263
There's even a moment when the thoughts of one Decembrist about the convicts that were already there, seems to harken forward to Dostoevsky's own thoughts expressed in The House of the Dead
An absolutely essential piece of Russian history from the voices of the people involved in it. While the three great world revolutions get all the attention, it must not be forgotten that some of these minor ones were either spurred on by those, or stand as the first testament of a people wanting change in the aftermath of those. Essential also because, even though there is a certain amount of detail lost because it is individuals telling their own stories long after, the accounts still give the reader insight to every stage of a Russian convicts exile to Siberia, the monarchy at the time, and the ability of humans to adapt and live successfully with change.
I wish I had taken more notes.
* * *
I picked this book up out of about 10 or so boxes of books that were being thrown out by a secondhand shop located in Hamilton, New Zealand, in the suburb of Claudelands. The shop had too many books and couldn't sell them so was giving them away before they chucked them in the dump. I live in my car, and don't have room to hold more than one box of books, and already have about 20 in my possession waiting to be read. The inside page has a signed dedication by the editor:
To "[Simsims?] Mum and Dad" In memory of '81 (The Summer of no Tour) With kind regards, Glyn Barratt i xi 81
Voices in Exile is a book I am glad that I found and saved from destruction, and one I will definitely will be holding onto.
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