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I Speak For The Silent Prisoners Of The Soviets
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2007
90 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir V. Tchernavin
3 books1 followerВладимир Вячеславович Чернавин was a Russian-born ichthyologist who became famous as one of the first and few prisoners of the Soviet Gulag system to escape abroad. He escaped together with his wife Tatiana Tchernavin.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 14, 2022
Good short read if you want a summary of a similar story to gulag archipelago.
July 9, 2017
the author's tribute to those who perished under a communist rule
April 19, 2017
Good as a glimpse into 1930 Soviet Russia but quite dry
I read the whole book but it was a bit of a slog. Apparent this along with his wife Tatiana's book, Escape from Russia, were alone for many decades until the Gulag books were published, in talking about the destruction of the Intelligentsia in the 30's. The first part of the book was a lot of details about politics so the book didn't really get very exciting until the author was actually arrested. Then there were the verbatim accounts of his ridiculous interviews. Life in the actual prison system and the clever ways the author worked it to his advantage were fascinating as well as details about the day to day living. How anyone survived the filth, bad food and lack of it, the grinding physical labor without hope of reprieve, cold without adequate clothing or blankets, lice and bedbugs, and the arbitrary cruelty beggars belief. The preparations for his escape through Finland were equally bright. Unfortunately, the book ends there and one is left wondering how the escape went. That is where one needs to pick up the story with his wife's book which he refers the reader to. Worth reading, the both of them.
I read the whole book but it was a bit of a slog. Apparent this along with his wife Tatiana's book, Escape from Russia, were alone for many decades until the Gulag books were published, in talking about the destruction of the Intelligentsia in the 30's. The first part of the book was a lot of details about politics so the book didn't really get very exciting until the author was actually arrested. Then there were the verbatim accounts of his ridiculous interviews. Life in the actual prison system and the clever ways the author worked it to his advantage were fascinating as well as details about the day to day living. How anyone survived the filth, bad food and lack of it, the grinding physical labor without hope of reprieve, cold without adequate clothing or blankets, lice and bedbugs, and the arbitrary cruelty beggars belief. The preparations for his escape through Finland were equally bright. Unfortunately, the book ends there and one is left wondering how the escape went. That is where one needs to pick up the story with his wife's book which he refers the reader to. Worth reading, the both of them.
May 5, 2009
Life under Stalin; as told by one who escaped from one of his work camps. A real eye opener!
May 4, 2018
Poor ending..
Needs another chapter to finish the story..
Glad I didn't pay alot. Yes, you get what you pay for. Kiitos
Needs another chapter to finish the story..
Glad I didn't pay alot. Yes, you get what you pay for. Kiitos
November 7, 2020
"— Как относитесь к советской власти? — Пишу — «сочувствую», по ходячему анекдоту, дальше следует мысленное добавление — «но помочь ничем не могу».”
Another one of the best discoveries of the year. I recommend this book very strongly!
However, if you intend to read it, I would like to highlight that you should find BOTH books (i.e., “Записки «вредителя»” by Владимир Чернавин and “Побег из ГУЛАГа” by Татьяна Чернавина) or make sure that your edition contains both texts. As I understand, the books are often published together, under one cover, but the only author indicated on the cover is Владимир Чернавин, and this is completely wrong, because these are two essential components of the same story, and they both are absolutely cool and important, and Татьяна Чернавина’s personality and her account are no less significant than Владимир Чернавин’s personality and his account of the events.
Their story is absolutely incredible!
Владимир Чернавин was a prominent scientist (ichthyologist), who worked in the fishing industry and was extremely knowledgeable and useful for Soviet economics. He was one of the last “old professionals” who were declared “wreckers” (вредители) and underwent show trials of the late 1920s/early 1930s intended to substantiate why the “genius” 5-year plan of economic development did not work.
His wife, Татьяна Чернавина, was also a quite good professional in her area, a curator and senior research associate (старший научный сотрудник) in the Hermitage, and before this, she was one of those art scientists who helped to restore the collections of several major museums shortly after the 1917 Revolution and prepare them to be shown to the public (“работала по восстановлению дворцов-музеев в Павловске, была хранителем Петергофского, Ораниенбауманского дворцов-музеев, а также Строгановского Дома”). At some point, she was fired and never allowed to work in the specialty again, and because of the arrest of Владимир Чернавин, she was also kept in prison for some time, as a “leverage opportunity” to put pressure on her husband if they needed his “confessions.” She was released after several months, without zero prosecution, as she was kept in prison all this time “just in case.”
Here’s the most fascinating part of the story: Владимир Чернавин was arrested in 1930, convicted for 5 years in the GULAG in 1931, and FLED THE GULAG AND THE USSR TOGETHER WITH WIFE (!) AND THEIR 14-YEAR-OLD SON (!!) in 1932 to Finland. Yes, such mind-blowing thing was possible and actually done by someone! (Although, of course, there were some unique circumstances and Владимир Чернавин’s very specific knowledge about nature and geography that allowed them to do this. Plus huge luck, of course.)
After Finland, they went to the United Kingdom and lived there for the rest of their lives. We do not know much about their life abroad, but it looks like they just assimilated in the Western society perfectly and lived as productively and normally as possible. Владимир Чернавин continued his scientific work as an ichthyologist and worked in the Natural History Museum in London until his death in 1949. Татьяна Чернавина worked as a translator in the UK Ministry of Information during World War II. Their son Андрей Чернавин became a civil engineer and was building bridges. All three of them had died by today (Андрей Чернавин — in 2007).
Very soon after their escape, they both published these books (in English, of course): “I Speak for the Silent Prisoners of the Soviets” by Vladimir V. Tchernavin and “Escape From The Soviets” by Tatiana Tchernavin. These books were one of the first accounts of people survived the early “pre-Great Terror” purges and the GULAG in the West, and when you read them, you see constantly reminders of this: “Читая эти записки, помните, что тысячи русских ученых и специалистов, как и я, брошенные в тюрьмы и на каторгу, и сейчас сидят в тех же вшивых камерах ГПУ, в холодных клоповных бараках концентрационных лагерей, голодные и раздетые, надрываясь над бессмысленной, принудительной работой. Помните, что и сейчас в СССР идут такие же «вредительские» процессы, что людей пытками вынуждают к «добровольным» признаниям и «чистосердечному» раскаянию, что часть их ждет расстрела, томясь в камерах смертников, часть — ссылки в безнадежную каторгу.” Imagine that Western people read this in 1934-35. The books were translated to all major European languages.
Surely, publication in Russia was possible only after the death of the USSR (in 1999).
Well, these books are about their story, up to the first days in Finland, and they are more than explanatory by themselves. As I already said, they should be read together, because they are the same story told from different sides and eventually about their incredible joint journey into freedom. In his part, Владимир Чернавин talks first about the economic situation in the area where he worked and shows the whole ridiculousness of the first 5-year plan of economic development in the USSR from the professional point of view, and then he outlines the key repressions and show trials over “old professionals,” and he also provides one of the most detailed and interesting from the professional point of view analysis of the GULAG as an economic entity, “a state within a state.” He also tells his own story of arrest and conviction, but the key value of the book is in all those analytical and factual data that a rare specialist can provide even today. He ends the book with the last days of preparation for the escape, so you definitely would want to read what happened next. The story of the escape is described by his wife in her book, and this is an awesome thriller (seriously!). But before this, she also starts her book with her own account about the situation in art museums under the Soviets, her work, how she was repressed, etc.
Both books and the story overall are brilliant and extremely illuminating about thousands of different things! Please read them! I copied dozens of long quotes for myself, but I cannot reproduce even a small part of all the precious information they provided. The book should be a must-read especially for those people who still believe that repressions started in 1937.
I also really liked the personalities and writing style of both Владимир and Татьяна. They are clearly very intelligent and rational people, and they made a great team together. I feel envious about Андрей Чернавин, because he had such amazing father and mother.
Another one of the best discoveries of the year. I recommend this book very strongly!
However, if you intend to read it, I would like to highlight that you should find BOTH books (i.e., “Записки «вредителя»” by Владимир Чернавин and “Побег из ГУЛАГа” by Татьяна Чернавина) or make sure that your edition contains both texts. As I understand, the books are often published together, under one cover, but the only author indicated on the cover is Владимир Чернавин, and this is completely wrong, because these are two essential components of the same story, and they both are absolutely cool and important, and Татьяна Чернавина’s personality and her account are no less significant than Владимир Чернавин’s personality and his account of the events.
Their story is absolutely incredible!
Владимир Чернавин was a prominent scientist (ichthyologist), who worked in the fishing industry and was extremely knowledgeable and useful for Soviet economics. He was one of the last “old professionals” who were declared “wreckers” (вредители) and underwent show trials of the late 1920s/early 1930s intended to substantiate why the “genius” 5-year plan of economic development did not work.
His wife, Татьяна Чернавина, was also a quite good professional in her area, a curator and senior research associate (старший научный сотрудник) in the Hermitage, and before this, she was one of those art scientists who helped to restore the collections of several major museums shortly after the 1917 Revolution and prepare them to be shown to the public (“работала по восстановлению дворцов-музеев в Павловске, была хранителем Петергофского, Ораниенбауманского дворцов-музеев, а также Строгановского Дома”). At some point, she was fired and never allowed to work in the specialty again, and because of the arrest of Владимир Чернавин, she was also kept in prison for some time, as a “leverage opportunity” to put pressure on her husband if they needed his “confessions.” She was released after several months, without zero prosecution, as she was kept in prison all this time “just in case.”
Here’s the most fascinating part of the story: Владимир Чернавин was arrested in 1930, convicted for 5 years in the GULAG in 1931, and FLED THE GULAG AND THE USSR TOGETHER WITH WIFE (!) AND THEIR 14-YEAR-OLD SON (!!) in 1932 to Finland. Yes, such mind-blowing thing was possible and actually done by someone! (Although, of course, there were some unique circumstances and Владимир Чернавин’s very specific knowledge about nature and geography that allowed them to do this. Plus huge luck, of course.)
After Finland, they went to the United Kingdom and lived there for the rest of their lives. We do not know much about their life abroad, but it looks like they just assimilated in the Western society perfectly and lived as productively and normally as possible. Владимир Чернавин continued his scientific work as an ichthyologist and worked in the Natural History Museum in London until his death in 1949. Татьяна Чернавина worked as a translator in the UK Ministry of Information during World War II. Their son Андрей Чернавин became a civil engineer and was building bridges. All three of them had died by today (Андрей Чернавин — in 2007).
Very soon after their escape, they both published these books (in English, of course): “I Speak for the Silent Prisoners of the Soviets” by Vladimir V. Tchernavin and “Escape From The Soviets” by Tatiana Tchernavin. These books were one of the first accounts of people survived the early “pre-Great Terror” purges and the GULAG in the West, and when you read them, you see constantly reminders of this: “Читая эти записки, помните, что тысячи русских ученых и специалистов, как и я, брошенные в тюрьмы и на каторгу, и сейчас сидят в тех же вшивых камерах ГПУ, в холодных клоповных бараках концентрационных лагерей, голодные и раздетые, надрываясь над бессмысленной, принудительной работой. Помните, что и сейчас в СССР идут такие же «вредительские» процессы, что людей пытками вынуждают к «добровольным» признаниям и «чистосердечному» раскаянию, что часть их ждет расстрела, томясь в камерах смертников, часть — ссылки в безнадежную каторгу.” Imagine that Western people read this in 1934-35. The books were translated to all major European languages.
Surely, publication in Russia was possible only after the death of the USSR (in 1999).
Well, these books are about their story, up to the first days in Finland, and they are more than explanatory by themselves. As I already said, they should be read together, because they are the same story told from different sides and eventually about their incredible joint journey into freedom. In his part, Владимир Чернавин talks first about the economic situation in the area where he worked and shows the whole ridiculousness of the first 5-year plan of economic development in the USSR from the professional point of view, and then he outlines the key repressions and show trials over “old professionals,” and he also provides one of the most detailed and interesting from the professional point of view analysis of the GULAG as an economic entity, “a state within a state.” He also tells his own story of arrest and conviction, but the key value of the book is in all those analytical and factual data that a rare specialist can provide even today. He ends the book with the last days of preparation for the escape, so you definitely would want to read what happened next. The story of the escape is described by his wife in her book, and this is an awesome thriller (seriously!). But before this, she also starts her book with her own account about the situation in art museums under the Soviets, her work, how she was repressed, etc.
Both books and the story overall are brilliant and extremely illuminating about thousands of different things! Please read them! I copied dozens of long quotes for myself, but I cannot reproduce even a small part of all the precious information they provided. The book should be a must-read especially for those people who still believe that repressions started in 1937.
I also really liked the personalities and writing style of both Владимир and Татьяна. They are clearly very intelligent and rational people, and they made a great team together. I feel envious about Андрей Чернавин, because he had such amazing father and mother.
January 13, 2026
I am not a particular fan of Solzhenicyn's book on the Gulag system because of its large scope, which necessarily reduces the people in the system to numbers and introduces hearsay. I greatly prefer the present much more personal book in combination with some brief geographic treatment of the whole system. It cannot be your first book on Stalinist USSR though, because the author takes the socioeconomic background for granted, and without it you will be lost and/or bored in many places.
Tchernavin is a fisheries scientist working in Murmansk. After utterly unattainable fish catch targets are announced for the first five-year plan, he is charged with sabotage and sent to a nearby labor camp, from which he escapes to Finland. The book is a great primary source for the social networks and general circumstances of this horrifying place.
I flipped from the book to a certain current news item, and I genuinely freaked out for the evening.
Tchernavin is a fisheries scientist working in Murmansk. After utterly unattainable fish catch targets are announced for the first five-year plan, he is charged with sabotage and sent to a nearby labor camp, from which he escapes to Finland. The book is a great primary source for the social networks and general circumstances of this horrifying place.
I flipped from the book to a certain current news item, and I genuinely freaked out for the evening.
May 19, 2025
Slow in parts, but still an important document. For all those who claim that real communism has never been tried, read this book. Describes the godless hell that was the Soviet Union, wherein men’s lives were only valued for their worth to the state. Too often the battle between the West and communism is reduced to merely an argument over economics. Of course a market economy leads to more flourishing and social mobility than a planned state-run economy, but Tchernavin shows that the battle was always a spiritual battle: will man’s soul remain free to worship God or be crushed by the weight of an oppressive state intent on destroying and supplanting the church?
October 8, 2018
Reading this book felt like I was sitting in a theater off Broadway listening to a one-man performance about the author's horrid experiences with the Soviets.
This was my first encounter with the details of oppression under the Bolsheviks and it's dystopianly disorienting. The author writes of his experiences, circa 1928-1931, and the level of detail he provides is impressive and depressing. As much as I believe the stories I struggle to understand how the brutality in the USSR was as pervasive and long-lasting as it was. There's no mention of Stalin but nonetheless he looms large.
I wouldn't read this book again but it will leave a lasting impression that speaks for the power of one man's story.
This was my first encounter with the details of oppression under the Bolsheviks and it's dystopianly disorienting. The author writes of his experiences, circa 1928-1931, and the level of detail he provides is impressive and depressing. As much as I believe the stories I struggle to understand how the brutality in the USSR was as pervasive and long-lasting as it was. There's no mention of Stalin but nonetheless he looms large.
I wouldn't read this book again but it will leave a lasting impression that speaks for the power of one man's story.
July 7, 2021
Книга ценна тем, что написана сразу после побега, по свежим воспоминаниям. Много вышедших из употребления слов, напри��ер "проектировка", это интересно. Если вы много читали про репрессии 30-х годов, найдёте много похожего, но эта история побега увлекает, переживаешь за героев. Я была на Соловках, в Кеми в 2010 году, я родилась в Кандалакше, где жили мои бабушка и дедушка, я хорошо представляют этот северный суровый край. Книга обязательна к прочтению всем, кто помнит своих предков. Да и всем, кто считает Россию родиной. История не состоит только из побед и достижений. мы обязаны помнить всех, иначе обречены ходить по кругу, наступая на грабли.
August 20, 2017
The story must be read.
This is hard to read because of the wanton deception and victimization of ordinary citizens by their government. How can a person cope psychologically when their government arbitrarily
This is hard to read because of the wanton deception and victimization of ordinary citizens by their government. How can a person cope psychologically when their government arbitrarily
March 23, 2020
The Horror of Soviet Communism
The importance of these revelations as a testament to the evil of totalitarian communism cannot be underestimated. The text is mostly narrative, which captures one's attention and interest. At least for me.
The importance of these revelations as a testament to the evil of totalitarian communism cannot be underestimated. The text is mostly narrative, which captures one's attention and interest. At least for me.
June 17, 2009
Brilliant account of Soviet communist terror in action.
"Whoever is not in prison - will be there; whoever was in prison - will return there."
"Whoever is not in prison - will be there; whoever was in prison - will return there."
August 23, 2017
Read it twice now
Wonderful heartbreaking memoir of history.
Thank you for sharing your experience for some of us have not learned this side of the war.
Wonderful heartbreaking memoir of history.
Thank you for sharing your experience for some of us have not learned this side of the war.
September 10, 2017
Very long, politically informative story about the horror of Russian work camps.
July 2, 2020
Читал на одном дыхании, слава богу что им все удалось убежать.
April 27, 2018
Excellent books, well worth reading. There is one by this author and one by his wife. I cannot recommend these books enough.
April 30, 2018
A sad account of the suffering of a group of the very people who we dedicated to their country, by a ruthless Soviet government in the 1929s and 1930s.
July 24, 2018
Очень впечатлила.
September 14, 2018
This book isn't a light read. It's a very detailed account of a Russian scientist who the Soviets put in prison for "wrecking." I will require my highschoolers to read this book!
May 8, 2019
Very informative on the life in the USSR and the Gulag system.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews