Summary

"A People's Tragedy: A History of the Russian Revolution" by Orlando Figes provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the Russian Revolution, spanning from 1891 to 1924. The book delves into the complex web of social, political, and economic factors that culminated in the collapse of the Tsarist regime and the rise of the Bolsheviks.

Figes paints a vivid picture of Russia under the old regime, exploring the dynasty, the unstable pillars of society, the lives of peasants and workers, and the rise of revolutionary movements. He highlights the deep-seated problems within the Tsarist autocracy, such as the absence of a state-based counterbalance to the Tsar's despotism, the fragility of liberal civil society, the backwardness of the Russian village, and the fanaticism of the radical intelligentsia. These themes are interwoven throughout the narrative, providing a nuanced understanding of the revolution's causes.

The book meticulously examines the events leading up to the revolution, including the crisis of authority from 1891 to 1917, the rise of political opposition, and the impact of World War I. Figes analyzes the key figures of the revolution, such as Tsar Nicholas II, Lenin, Trotsky, and Rasputin, and explores their motivations and actions. He also sheds light on the experiences of ordinary people, including peasants, workers, soldiers, and national minorities, who were caught up in the revolutionary fervor.

The author further describes the tumultuous period of the revolution itself, from the Glorious February to Lenin's seizure of power in October. He examines the agony of the Provisional Government, the rise of Lenin's Bolsheviks, and the subsequent Civil War. Figes explores the social and political dynamics of the time, including the power struggles between different factions, the role of local interests, and the degeneration of the revolution into violence and dictatorship.

Lastly, the book chronicles the aftermath of the revolution, including the last dreams of the old world, the revolution's impact on war, the triumph of the new regime, and the deaths and departures that marked the end of an era. Figes concludes that Russia's democratic failure was deeply rooted in its political culture and social history, and that the same social forces that brought about the triumph of the Bolshevik regime ultimately became its main victims. Ultimately, the book attempts to show that what began as a people's revolution contained the seeds of its own degeneration into violence and dictatorship.

Through personal histories, diaries, and letters, Figes offers a human perspective on the revolution's great events, conveying the chaos and tragedy of those years. The book serves as a comprehensive and insightful account of one of the most significant events in modern history.