Asked shortly after the revolution about how she viewed the new government; Tatiana Varsher replied; "With the wide-open eyes of a historian." Her countrywoman; Zinaida Zhemchuzhnaia; expressed a similar need to take note: "I want to write about the way those events were perceived and reflected in the humble and distant corner of Russia that was the Cossack town of Korenovskaia." What these women witnessed and experienced; and what they were moved to describe; is part of the extraordinary portrait of life in revolutionary Russia presented in this book. A collection of life stories of Russian women in the first half of the twentieth century; In the Shadow of Revolution brings together the testimony of Soviet citizens and émigrés; intellectuals of aristocratic birth and Soviet milkmaids; housewives and engineers; Bolshevik activists and dedicated opponents of the Soviet regime. In literary memoirs; oral interviews; personal dossiers; public speeches; and letters to the editor; these women document their diverse experience of the upheavals that reshaped Russia in the first half of this century. As is characteristic of twentieth-century Russian women's autobiographies; these life stories take their structure not so much from private events like childbirth or marriage as from great public events. Accordingly the collection is structured around the events these women see as touchstones: the Revolution of 1917 and the Civil War of 1918-20; the switch to the New Economic Policy in the 1920s and collectivization; and the Stalinist society of the 1930s; including the Great Terror. Edited by two preeminent historians of Russia and the Soviet Union; the volume includes introductions that investigate the social historical context of these women's lives as well as the structure of their autobiographical narratives.
#2948274 in Books Atheneum 1988-11-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 #File Name: 0689119976263 pages
Review
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful. Ran Has a Talent For Finding Trouble.By A CustomerThis book serves two purposes: 1) The recollections of an army officer and explorer; and 2) The redemption of said man.Sir Ranulph; who is an actual Baronet; comes from one of the most illustrious families in Britain. Unfortunately; he initially inherited some of the worst personal traits which the British upperclass has to offer. He was sent to the right schools and eventually entered the adult world as a serviing British Army officer in one of the best regiments. Only after he was accepted into the elite British Special Air Service Regiment (SAS); did his true nature and worth appear.Cashiered after an incredibly stupid "bit of fun;" Sir Ran found his niche in life - explorer. It soon became apparent that he was a 19th Century British man trapped in the 20th Century; and the same conduct which had made Britain a world power was now a social embarrassment. As a member of the Royal Geographic Society; Sir Ran has gone on to conduct some of the most spectacular explorations in the world - and become a damned nice chap along the way. None better.Sir Ran's recollections of his service and redemption in Oman are priceless. His military career was salvaged by an offer to serve as a "seconded" officer to the Sultan of Oman's Forces during the Dhofar Campaign of the 1970's. In this little known campaign; British "seconded" officers led Omani troops in successfully putting down a spreading Communist insurgency. Any officer or NCO who will be leading or advising indigenous troops should read this book. Sir Ran led; fed; sheltered; ate with and loved his Omanis - and they reciprocated. This is a sort of "Apocalypse Now" with a happy ending.If you are looking for a personal journey along with high adventure; you can do no better that "Living Dangerously" by Sir Ranulph Fiennes.16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful journeyBy Scott A. OllarOne day; on a book hunt at my local used book stores; I noticed an oversized photograph of a handsome man staring back at me from the top shelf. Turns out it wasn't a photograph; it was the cover of this book. A quick look at the book indicated that it was written by a british explorer; whom I had vaguely heard of. I decided to buy the book; as it's $2.00 price tag was very reasonable. The fact that it was an autographed first edition was an added bonus. I put it on my shelf; and thought little of it.A few weeks later; I was looking for a book to take to help me to sleep. I grabbed this book off the unread book shelf. I was reading all night; following young Ranulph Fiennes as he attended Eton; fought in Oman; and pursued many historic expeditions. The book was written in an easy; conversational tone; and it was impossible to put down. It would have been worth buying at $100.00. I hope whomever decides to buy the book based on this review enjoys it as much as I did.
