Mirrors of Moscow

by Louise Bryant

Lenin became an active revolutionist through the spiritual motives that have moved all great reformers—not because he himself was hungry and an outcast, but because he could not stand by unmoved in a world where other men were hungry and outcast. Such characters are predestined internationalists; the very quality that lifts them above materialism places them above borders and points of geography; they strive for the universal good. Lenin believes that the only thing worth living for is the next generation. Communism is his formula for saving the next generation from the injustices and inequalities of the present. When I think of Lenin and his place in the Russian revolution I am reminded of a statue which, until the late Fall of the year 1918, adorned the busy square before the entrance to the Nikoliavski station in Petrograd. It represented one of the former rulers of Russia astride a huge stallion. One could not fail to be struck by the tremendous strength of the animal and the frailty of the rider. The contrast was intentional; the titled sculptor meant to warn his sovereign of the dangers threatening the throne. Russia was the wild horse, fierce, untamed, powerful, a force as yet unaroused but which might wake up any moment and cast off its royal burden. When Lenin took the reins of state, he was in exactly the same position as a man riding a runaway horse. The utmost his constituents could have expected was that he would guide Russia away from complete destruction. They could hold him responsible for immediate situations but not for ultimate results. To what goal those vast urges and desires which caused the revolution would carry Russia, was beyond him or any man to command. His heart and his mind wished to direct it toward the crimson portals of socialism. Russia, however, in its stampede seems to have slowed up dangerously near the old, familiar gates of capitalism. Nevertheless, she will never be the same; Lenin is responsible for it that Russia has forever gained the larger fruits of the revolution. Legends spring up around every famous man, manufactured largely by his enemies, who spread tales of his lavish extravagance, his vices, his affairs with women. It is important to know such facts about a man’s life. His personal relationships mean a great deal; if he fails in these, he eventually fails in all ways. The life of the leader of a great world movement must harmonize with his doctrines; his conduct must be as austere or as lax as his doctrines dictate. That is why we have a natural antipathy to dissolute priests and none at all to dissolute poets and Bacchanalians. So it is worthy of note that even the narrowest moralist could not pick a flaw in Lenin’s personal conduct I am convinced that if he had lived in any other way than he has, he could not have maintained his remarkable poise.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

209 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1973

Reviews

[Ümit Betil · Rating 3 out of 5]

19717 devriminde yer alan kişiler hakkında birinci elden yazılmış kişisel gözlemleri içeriyor kitap. Yazar o sıralar John Reed'in eşi. O nedenle taraflı olduğunu akılda tutarak okumalı. Ancak anlattığı anekdotlar, yazar ne denli taraflı olursa olsun kendileri için konuşuyorlar. Sonuç olarak ham malzeme. Türkçe'ye bu kadar geç çevrilmesi yazık.
Akıcı.
Ancak kitap Amerikalı okuyuculara yönelik yazılmış. Bazı özellikleri açıklamak için o zamanın bazı Amerikalı siyasetçilerine referans veriliyor, ki bırakın o politikacıların özelliklerini bilmeyi, adlarını bile duymadım.
Sonuç olarak oldukça ilgi çekici.

[Audrey Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is 'cute' - written and published in the early 20s before Lenin's death, Bryant writes about the notable men and women in Russian politics at the time. Her opinion is biased and occasionally Entertainment Weekly-esque but still an interesting look into the past via one American reporter

[Noe Clarx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aquest llibre m'ha semblat molt interessant. Ofereix una mirada externa i feminista de la primera Rússia soviètica. Mostra, a través de l'experiència de l'autora, la personalitat d'alguns revolucionaris soviètics des de la vessant més humana, crítica i honesta, quelcom que no he pogut trobar a cap altre llibre. Un altre aspecte interessant és llegir les expectatives que els contemporanis de l'època tenien sobre el futur del món i de l'URSS. Amb tot, la lectura és àgil i l'estil de l'autora és bastant polit. No obstant això, hi ha algunes errades gramaticals i ortogràfiques a la traducció en català, tot i que és molt d'agrair que es traduisquen i s'editen aquestes obres en la nostra llengua.

[Toni Padilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Bryant, companya d’aventures i vida d’en John Reed, va conèixer personalment els personatges dels articles d’aquest llibre. De Lenin i Trotski abans d’Stalin, al patriarca ortodox. De la feminista Kollontai a Enver Paixà.