Leaflets of the Russian Revolution: Socialist Organizing in 1917

by Barbara C. Allen (Translator)

When workers and peasants rose up across Russia and smashed the centuries old Tsarist autocracy their actions reverberated across the world, and continue to inspire activists to this day. This carefully assembled and expertly translated collection of documents from the Petrograd socialist movement in 1917 provides contemporary readers with a firsthand glimpse into the revolutionary ferment as it unfolds.

In Leaflets of the Russian Revolution, Barbara Allen selects and introduces the pamphlets and other agitational material that give life to the debates, disagreements and perspectives that animated the masses during the revolution.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Soviet Union

168 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2018

About the author

Having grown up in rural North Carolina, I earned a B.A. in Modern European history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I also studied Russian language and literature. My Ph.D. is in Russian and Soviet History from Indiana University Bloomington, where I studied with Alexander Rabinowitch. I have carried out archival research in Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. I teach at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Reviews

[celestine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating collection of pamphlets from the intense days of Russia’s two revolutions. The pamphlets themselves are interesting in implications for the present as we see a lot of the same questions in play, and also because of the simple and easy to read language that has been so, so lost by the modern left.

The book also doubles as a super zoomed-in micro-history of the trade union movement during the revolutions and shortly thereafter, interesting in its own right.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short introductory section on the rise of the Russian Revolution (that was great) and a short conclusionary section on the aftermath of October 1917 in terms how the Bolsheviks treated trade unionism (mostly didn't understand) sandwiched in a bunch of leaflets of the Russian Revolution. Very cool to see the conflicting approaches, like the Bolshevik vs Menshevik agitation in regards to WWI. A testament to the chaotic rise of sometimes competing tactics in revolution!

[Viral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of primary sources and history of the Russian Revolution in Petrograd in 1917. I wish the book had more imagery, though, and not just the text of the leaflets. But otherwise, a good supporting text for those already somewhat familiar with the historic moment.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly short read that lacks much commentary, which makes it feel somewhat unfocused at points. It also feels weirdly anti-Bolshevik, mostly in passing without honing in on it, but it read as having a bit of a moderate/revisionist pall. However, I did appreciate reading the source material as the groundwork for the October Revolution and its early aftermath to be worthwhile.