The Empire Must Die portrays the vivid drama of Russia's brief and exotic experiment with civil society before it was swept away by the despotism of the Communist Revolution. The window between two equally stifling autocracies - the imperial family and the communists - was open only briefly, in the last couple of years of the 19th century until the end of WWI, by which time the revolution was in full fury. From the last years of Tolstoy until the death of the Tsar and his family, however, Russia experimented with ...
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The Empire Must Die portrays the vivid drama of Russia's brief and exotic experiment with civil society before it was swept away by the despotism of the Communist Revolution. The window between two equally stifling autocracies - the imperial family and the communists - was open only briefly, in the last couple of years of the 19th century until the end of WWI, by which time the revolution was in full fury. From the last years of Tolstoy until the death of the Tsar and his family, however, Russia experimented with liberalism and cultural openness. In Europe, the Ballet Russe was the height of chic. Novelists and playwrights blossomed, political ideas were swapped in coffee houses and St Petersburg felt briefly like Vienna or Paris. The state, however couldn't tolerate such experimentation against the backdrop of a catastrophic war and a failing economy. The autocrats moved in and the liberals were overwhelmed. This story seems to have strangely prescient echoes of the present.
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Seller's Description:
Like New. Hardcover 100% of proceeds go to charity! Clean copy with no writing, notes, creases or highlighting. Item may have been opened and read, but signs of use are minimal.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
As New in As New dust jacket. 1610398319. This book is like new; no remainder marks. Some slight cover shelfwear. Inside pages are clean.; 6.5 X 1.75 X 9.625 inches; 576 pages.
The people's freedoms initiated by Nicholas' father set a scene in 1900 Russia not unlike some parts of the globe in the present day. The rise of family industrialists in textiles and steel saw a cultural shift away from power and influence by government. The story until 1917 is pivoted on this central theme along with the role of the arts and army. Zygar uses these platforms to introduce hundreds of interesting characters, takes you into the day to day, and has you believe you are an eye witness. I found the book beautifully written and engaging, and it was easy to reflect on similarities today. Private wealth supported changes in attitude, and the quest for more political reform. As Zygar explains, reform could have no integrity on a rotten foundation. He makes no judgments on the post 1917 government but brilliantly elucidates how the country arrived at that junction. I found the copious footnotes, bibliographic references, modern comparisons and the character descriptions really useful. Zygar seems to use sources of newspaper articles, private letters and archival material with gusto. I felt I was there.
The book is nicely rounded off with a short subsequent CV of many of the main characters either remaining or emigrant.
