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Russia in world history;: Selected essays
1970 University of Michigan Press hardcover. M.N Pokrovskii (Imperialist War 1915 - 1930). A collection of essays exploring the history of Russia.
- GenresRussia
241 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1970
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December 28, 2025
I guess you must be in deep if you've found your way to a review of this book.
In Soviet circles, Pokrovskii was at one time regarded as perhaps the greatest of the post-revolutionary historians. He died before the purges, but that didn't save his reputation. In due course he took his turn getting dragged through the mud and being slapped with all the stock "counterrevolutionary" labels. Only years later, like so many others, was he "rehabilitated," at least to some extent.
The introduction to the book, which provided context for the essays that follow, was rather interesting. Given background on Pokrovskii's life, his accomplishments, and his place among revolutionaries and academics alike made me at least mildly curious to read some of his work.
I found the essays that followed pretty hard to endure. Many of them seem like little more than meandering, stream-of-consciousness babble that for an academic of his training, seem really poorly constructed. What is worse is the endless lauding of the proletariat world revolution, the blathering about permanent revolution, the shameless praise of Lenin. I know, what was I expecting, right? I know I have the privilege of a hundred years of history to help me judge, but it all seems so silly. I suppose those who consider Marxism to be based on some kind of "science" don't mind creating historical arguments based on folly.
If you are as interested in Russian history as I am, it’s possible you will find some value in reading this book, if you are ever able to get your hands on a copy. That said, I hope this review will help to temper expectations accordingly.
In Soviet circles, Pokrovskii was at one time regarded as perhaps the greatest of the post-revolutionary historians. He died before the purges, but that didn't save his reputation. In due course he took his turn getting dragged through the mud and being slapped with all the stock "counterrevolutionary" labels. Only years later, like so many others, was he "rehabilitated," at least to some extent.
The introduction to the book, which provided context for the essays that follow, was rather interesting. Given background on Pokrovskii's life, his accomplishments, and his place among revolutionaries and academics alike made me at least mildly curious to read some of his work.
I found the essays that followed pretty hard to endure. Many of them seem like little more than meandering, stream-of-consciousness babble that for an academic of his training, seem really poorly constructed. What is worse is the endless lauding of the proletariat world revolution, the blathering about permanent revolution, the shameless praise of Lenin. I know, what was I expecting, right? I know I have the privilege of a hundred years of history to help me judge, but it all seems so silly. I suppose those who consider Marxism to be based on some kind of "science" don't mind creating historical arguments based on folly.
If you are as interested in Russian history as I am, it’s possible you will find some value in reading this book, if you are ever able to get your hands on a copy. That said, I hope this review will help to temper expectations accordingly.
Displaying 1 of 1 review