Russia and History's Turning Point

by Alexander Kerensky

This memoir discusses Kerensky's early life and brief role as leader of the ill-fated Provisional Government during the Russian Revolution of 1917-18. It also contains Kerensky's narrative of the Revolution and his opinions on post 1917 Russia.

Genres: Russia, History

558 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

After the abdication of Nicholas II, Russian revolutionary Aleksandr Feodorovich Kerensky served as prime minister of the provisional government in July 1917, but for his moderate policies, the Bolsheviks in October 1917 overthrew him.

This lawyer led the short-lived republic for three months.

After February 1917, people newly formed the entity that he joined first at justice, then at war, and after July as the second chairman. He led the social-democratic Trudovik faction of the party. Kerensky as also a vice-chairman of the Petrograd soviet held sizable power. The Great War consumed his tenure. Despite mass opposition, Kerensky chose to continue participation. He further cracked down anti-war sentiment and dissent, which only further alienated him throughout 1917.

Vladimir Ilich Lenin led those who replaced Kerensky with Communists. Kerensky escaped Russia and lived the remainder of his life in exile. He spent this time between Paris and New York. Kerensky worked for the conservative Hoover institution at Stanford University.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the final words of Alexander Kerensky on the pre October Revolution history of Russia this book will always have value but it is also flawed, just like its author. There is an excellent review, not behind a paywall, by the historian Leonard Schapiro, at: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1965.... But I would doubt anyone interested in the Russian Revolution, and that nowadays very much means the February revolution (the October revolution which was supposed to the culmination of history has proved itself to be just another cul-de-sac), would have many new sources and new biographies of Kerensky to turn to - not all of them are available in English - in fact very few are (the days when decent Russian history emerged from Western Universities is, I think past). As this is Kerensky's words and views before he died they are important but the world and the history of Russia has moved on.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, it's boring if you read the whole thing. But this man is amazing. In order to explain how he felt about being at the center of a turning point in history, he translated Fedor Tyutchev's poem "Cicero" into English (I have yet to find a better translation online). He grew up knowing and loving the poem--a poem about witnessing a "moment of destiny" in the world--and then witnessed one of these moments himself during the beginnings of the Russian revolution. How Kerensky sees himself through art and other people is fascinating.

[David Ingrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

One may reasonably harbor concerns about the truthfulness and honesty of auto-biographies. Although this work is not one, the author's involvement in the vast majority of the events described therein creates questions regarding its accuracy. Still, it was a very worth-while read from someone who was in the middle of world shaping events. Having out-lived his Russian political enemies, such as Stalin, Trotsky, Dzerzhinsky, and the other "Old Bolsheviks (with the exception of Molotov), perhaps Mr. Kerensky found some inner peace concerning the future of his homeland before he too passed. It seems a shame that he was not a witness to the decline and fall of the Soviet Union.