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March 1917: The Red Wheel, Node III, Book 2
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's March 1917, Book 2, covers three days of the February Revolution when the nation unraveled, leading to the Bolshevik takeover eight months later.
The Red Wheel is Nobel Prize–winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's multivolume epic work about the Russian Revolution. He spent decades writing about just four of the most important periods, or "nodes.” This is the first time that the monumental March 1917—the third node—has been translated into English. It tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which the Imperial government melts in the face of the mob, and the giants of the opposition also prove incapable of controlling the course of events.
The action of Book 2 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 13–15, 1917, the Russian Revolution's turbulent second week. The revolution has already won inside the capital, Petrograd. News of the revolution flashes across all Russia through the telegraph system of the Ministry of Roads and Railways. But this is wartime, and the real power is with the army. At Emperor Nikolai II’s order, the Supreme Command sends troops to suppress the revolution in Petrograd. Meanwhile, victory speeches ring out at Petrograd's Tauride Palace. Inside, two parallel power structures emerge: the Provisional Government and the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers’ Deputies, which sends out its famous "Order No. 1," presaging the destruction of the army. The troops sent to suppress the Petrograd revolution are halted by the army’s own top commanders. The Emperor is detained and abdicates, and his ministers are jailed and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. This sweeping, historical novel is a must-read for Solzhenitsyn's many fans, as well as those interested in twentieth-century history, Russian history and literature, and military history.
The Red Wheel is Nobel Prize–winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's multivolume epic work about the Russian Revolution. He spent decades writing about just four of the most important periods, or "nodes.” This is the first time that the monumental March 1917—the third node—has been translated into English. It tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which the Imperial government melts in the face of the mob, and the giants of the opposition also prove incapable of controlling the course of events.
The action of Book 2 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 13–15, 1917, the Russian Revolution's turbulent second week. The revolution has already won inside the capital, Petrograd. News of the revolution flashes across all Russia through the telegraph system of the Ministry of Roads and Railways. But this is wartime, and the real power is with the army. At Emperor Nikolai II’s order, the Supreme Command sends troops to suppress the revolution in Petrograd. Meanwhile, victory speeches ring out at Petrograd's Tauride Palace. Inside, two parallel power structures emerge: the Provisional Government and the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers’ Deputies, which sends out its famous "Order No. 1," presaging the destruction of the army. The troops sent to suppress the Petrograd revolution are halted by the army’s own top commanders. The Emperor is detained and abdicates, and his ministers are jailed and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. This sweeping, historical novel is a must-read for Solzhenitsyn's many fans, as well as those interested in twentieth-century history, Russian history and literature, and military history.
728 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
20 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
288 books4,122 followersalso known as
Alexander Solzenitsyn (English, alternate)
Αλεξάντρ Σολζενίτσιν (Greek)
Works, including One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1962) and The Gulag Archipelago (1973-1975), of Soviet writer and dissident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1970, exposed the brutality of the labor camp system.
This known Russian novelist, dramatist, and historian best helped to make the world aware of the forced Gulag.
Exiled in 1974, he returned to Russia in 1994. Solzhenitsyn fathered of Ignat Solzhenitsyn, a conductor and pianist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksan...
Alexander Solzenitsyn (English, alternate)
Αλεξάντρ Σολζενίτσιν (Greek)
Works, including One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1962) and The Gulag Archipelago (1973-1975), of Soviet writer and dissident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1970, exposed the brutality of the labor camp system.
This known Russian novelist, dramatist, and historian best helped to make the world aware of the forced Gulag.
Exiled in 1974, he returned to Russia in 1994. Solzhenitsyn fathered of Ignat Solzhenitsyn, a conductor and pianist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksan...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 16, 2022
Some people don't know Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's work; some know of or have read his early books, and that usually means Denisovich and/or the Gulag trilogy. I doubt The Red Wheel features on anyone's TBR pile.
What I find compelling about August 1914, November 1916, and the two volumes of March 1917 Node III released so far in english translation is the rescuing of history and (for me) the discovery of what lay behind events that we, usually, see from the highest altitude possible. The few days covered in the latest volume of this multi-volume encyclopedic novel (there are four more to come) stay on the street level (or, in the old formulation, the level of the worm) and present, in a leisurely, chilling, and grinding way, what we know as the "Russian Revolution" as a fluid situation whose outcome was unknown to people participating in street riots and political struggles, those advising (or not) Tzar Nikolai II and his ministers, and soldiers either disgusted with their leadership or keen to keep fighting Germany. Every step is a step into a shapeless future. Those steps take us past (mire us in) civil disobedience, random shootings of citizens, the killing of policemen and officers, the insensitive and uncomprehending leadership of the Tzar, and much else. Inaction and inertia on the side of those in power; opportunism and a hunger for power on those who see things, however dimly, might change. Solzhenitsyn inhabits the minds of every one (based on extensive archival research and the use of others' memoirs) of the principal figures, many of whom are, I would guess, known primarily to specialists of this time period.
Like any writer, Solzhenitsyn isn't meant for everyone. But for those who think his work is conventional, consider his use of multiple voices, inventive typography, and quoted documents to provide a foundation for the dramatic ways he examines something we might complacently accept as historical fact and not requiring further scrutiny.
What I find compelling about August 1914, November 1916, and the two volumes of March 1917 Node III released so far in english translation is the rescuing of history and (for me) the discovery of what lay behind events that we, usually, see from the highest altitude possible. The few days covered in the latest volume of this multi-volume encyclopedic novel (there are four more to come) stay on the street level (or, in the old formulation, the level of the worm) and present, in a leisurely, chilling, and grinding way, what we know as the "Russian Revolution" as a fluid situation whose outcome was unknown to people participating in street riots and political struggles, those advising (or not) Tzar Nikolai II and his ministers, and soldiers either disgusted with their leadership or keen to keep fighting Germany. Every step is a step into a shapeless future. Those steps take us past (mire us in) civil disobedience, random shootings of citizens, the killing of policemen and officers, the insensitive and uncomprehending leadership of the Tzar, and much else. Inaction and inertia on the side of those in power; opportunism and a hunger for power on those who see things, however dimly, might change. Solzhenitsyn inhabits the minds of every one (based on extensive archival research and the use of others' memoirs) of the principal figures, many of whom are, I would guess, known primarily to specialists of this time period.
Like any writer, Solzhenitsyn isn't meant for everyone. But for those who think his work is conventional, consider his use of multiple voices, inventive typography, and quoted documents to provide a foundation for the dramatic ways he examines something we might complacently accept as historical fact and not requiring further scrutiny.
September 27, 2021
The second installment of March 1917 chronicles the political fallout of the revolution that had begun days earlier, and was the focus of the first node. The Duma begins working to restore some semblance of order in the face of the anarchy that had broken out in St. Petersburg. Solzhenitsyn is thorough and respectful as he retells the events.
It is fascinating to see how the Duma had, at first, thought they could harness the revolutionary forces for their own political ends. But the power was truly in the hands of the marxist forces and their revolutionary rhetoric. It isn't long before the Duma leaders find themselves having to work within the confines of the radicals.
As events in the capitols spiral out of control (it is in this second volume that news of the revolution has spread to Moscow) the military begins working with the revolutionary government to maintain the discipline required by military forces, particularly during wartime. By the end of this second volume, the military has undermined the authority of the emperor, leading to the critical moment that Nikolai abdicates the throne, in favor of his brother.
The book is long, detailed, and tough going, but well worth the effort for those that have made it thus far into the Red Wheel. I am very grateful to be able to read this in English, having serious doubts I would ever be able to do so when I began reading the series!
It is fascinating to see how the Duma had, at first, thought they could harness the revolutionary forces for their own political ends. But the power was truly in the hands of the marxist forces and their revolutionary rhetoric. It isn't long before the Duma leaders find themselves having to work within the confines of the radicals.
As events in the capitols spiral out of control (it is in this second volume that news of the revolution has spread to Moscow) the military begins working with the revolutionary government to maintain the discipline required by military forces, particularly during wartime. By the end of this second volume, the military has undermined the authority of the emperor, leading to the critical moment that Nikolai abdicates the throne, in favor of his brother.
The book is long, detailed, and tough going, but well worth the effort for those that have made it thus far into the Red Wheel. I am very grateful to be able to read this in English, having serious doubts I would ever be able to do so when I began reading the series!
December 2, 2024
This is the second time through this book. It is not an easy read as the three days it deals with are after the victory of the revolution. This book deals with the seeming victory of the Duma committee and the rise of the Soviet and Order Number One. This brought the Revolution forward by calling for Soldiers Soviets which were only responsible to the Petrograd Soviet. The narrative of the struggle between the Duma committee and The Tsar is grueling and the book ends with the abdication of Nickolas II.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
This 666 page book covers 3 days-March 13-15, 1917 and is a continuation of The Red Wheel series. The Red Wheel is a fantastic series that is epic in length and details about the Russian revolution. Not a book for a casual fan of Solzhenitsyn, but for those of us who have been waiting for the English translation of the entire series each book is eagerly awaited and devoured. At times the details and names are overwhelming, but an index of names and brief descriptions in the back of the book are welcome. For those who know St Petersburg-er Petrograd-a few maps also are present. Recommend the series to anyone with any historical interest in Russia or to anyone who thinks revolutions or anarchy have any positive aspects. But start at book/node one and not the second book of node three.
August 19, 2025
Anarchy reigns and Petrograd descends into chaos. The Soviet and the Duma compete for control of the government as the old order disintegrates. Military units fragment. Politicians attempt to hobble together an arrangement of control despite competing polarized emerging powers. And everyone turns against Alexi II. Abdication becomes the only alternative to a new government. But the people’s representatives are blind to their own inconsistent demands.
July 12, 2023
This book is so dense and so detailed it is hard to summarize. This book ended in the abdication of the Tsar. There are still two books left for this node (March 2017)! I'm looking forward to reading it all.
July 5, 2021
Masterpiece.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews