Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914-1918

by W. Bruce Lincoln

Book Overview

Recounting the tale of the Russians' passage through the shattering experience of the First World War and the revolutions of 1917, W. Bruce Lincoln offers a profoundly intelligent and detailed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671557092
• ISBN13: 9780671557096
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 637 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Five extrordinary years in Russia

As Lincoln's title suggests, this book is neither a history of Russia's war nor of the Revolutions of 1917, but rather a history of Russia during those years. Rather than providing a background of the Revolutions that covers the growth of radicalism and Marxism within Russia and amongst the usual exiles, Lincoln narrates a political history of the War years that concentrates on the major players at the time and their frustrating dealings with the Tsar, Tsarina, and, of course, indirectly Rasputin. Thus, he presents the Revolutions in their immediate contexts--rather than the usual long view--which presents them as anything but inevitable. Much like H.A. Turner's "Thirty Days to Power," that presents Hitler's rise in January 1933 as the product of very immediate conjuncture--rather than the inevitable product of Germany's long history--Lincoln's book emphasizes all the missed opportunities to avoid the calamity that came in 1917. This book isn't for beginners, but offers much new to readers already familiar with the usual story of the Revolutions of 1917. It also demonstrates the great explanatory power of narrative history that is missing in the topical treatments common today. Highly recommended.

Excellent Narrative History

It is a shame this book is no longer in print. Lincoln has proven himself to be an excellent narrative historian although he does provide analyses of the events he describes. This particular book is an outstanding overview of the political, military and social history of Russia from its entrance into World War I through the Communist revolution. The military catastrophes, political ineptitudes of the tsarist regime, the initial popular revolution and Lenin's road to power are discussed and described in an absorbing manner. While the book may seem dated it is still relevant with respect to current events and Lincoln himself is a reputable academic scholar on Russian history.