Trotskys history of the russian revolution is a long, very complex, and extremely detailed treatment of the remarkably eventful period from february to october of 1917. The great physicist albert einstein who belonged to the social democratic party in austria by the way, when reading about trotsky s plight during the 1930s, undoubtedly came across his one lasting, and most pertinent contribution to literature, which is the threevolume history of the russian revolution. History of the russian revolution ebook written by leon trotsky. He emphasized the inevitable momentum of eventsrevolution is the inspired frenzy of history, he. Trotsky was a principal leader in the founding of the soviet union. On june 4th, a declaration that i had submitted concerning kerenskys preparation for an offensive at the front was read by the bolshevik faction at the congress of soviets.
Trotsky s history of the russian revolution is a long, very complex, and extremely detailed treatment of the remarkably eventful period from february to october of 1917. Aug 15, 2017 leon trotsky was a key leader of the russian revolution. His father, a prosperous farmer, sent him to odessa, where he became an outstanding student in a german secondary school. Sep 02, 2010 leon trotsky s life spanned the inspiring highs and tragic lows of the international socialist movement in the 20th centurya leader of the 1917 russian revolution that gave us our first and best. Russia at the time was at war with germany as part of an entente or threecountry coalition that also included great britain and france. Leon trotsky, the history of the russian revolution translated by max. Alan woods has written a new introduction to the book which we publish here.
Translated by max eastman, 1932 library of congress catalog card number 8083994 isbn 09460834 transcribed for the world wide web by john gowland australia, alphanos pangas greece and david walters united states 1997 through 2000 converted to ebook format by. Leon trotsky author of history of the russian revolution. The history of the russian revolution by leon trotsky, 1957. Leon trotsky, from history of the russian revolution regarded by many as among the most powerful works of history ever written, this book offers an unparalleled account of one of the most pivotal and hotly debated events in world history. Trotskys magisterial history of the russian revolution was published in 1930 when trotsky had been forced in exile. It was first time in the history that the toiled masses had successfully established their own rule. This army was put to the test during the russian civil war 19181920. The russian revolution is a widely studied and seemingly well understood time in modern, european history, boasting a vast wealth of texts and information from those of the likes of robert service, simon sebag montefiore, allan bullock, robert conquest and jonathan reed, to name a few, but none is so widely sourced and so heavily relied upon than that of the account of leon trotsky, his book. After the october revolution trotsky was made foreign commissar and negotiated the treaty of brestlitovsk which took russia out of the war. Leon trotskyonce a vocal critic of lenin and the bolshevik partyjoined the bolsheviks in august 1917. Jan 29, 2007 shortly wellred books will be publishing a new edition of trotskyas masterpiece the history of the russian revolution.
When josef stalin threatened to diminish the peoples power, trotsky took a stand by acting for the people and opposing stalin. The russian revolution of 1917 was a major event in history that changed the world. He played a significant role in the organisation of the october revolution, led peace negotiations at brestlitovsk and as commissar for war, helped form and shape the red army. Of course, this speech of norths needs to be understood in the overall context of the seps theory and practice that steiner and brenner have critiqued in marxism without its head or heart, see chapters 7 and 8 on objectivism and. The definitive account of the russian revolution, by leon trotsky, its leader and key historian. Leon trotsky was a communist theorist, prolific writer, leader in the 1917 russian revolution, the peoples commissar for foreign affairs under lenin 19171918, and then head of the red army as the peoples commissar of army and navy affairs 19181924. We certainly agree that trotskys notebooks have been underappreciated to say the least in the icfi. Russian revolution simple english wikipedia, the free.
Leon trotsky the history of the russian revolution volume. The history of the russian revolution by leon trotsky. Stalins propaganda machine used trotsky as a focus for its propaganda. Leon trotsky was a leader of the russian revolution in 1917 and is the author of my life, the history of the russian revolution, and the revolution betrayed. Leon trotsky was born lev davidovich bronstein on 7 november 1879, the fifth child of a ukrainianjewish family of wealthy farmers in yanovka or yanivka, in the kherson governorate of the russian empire now bereslavka, in ukraine, a small village 24 kilometres 15 mi from the nearest post office.
History of the russian revolution by leon trotsky this passionate, partisan and beautifully written account by a major participant in the. Trotsky s book is divided into 3 volumes, the overthrow of tsarism, the history of the russian revolution and the triumph of the soviets. Topics generalities publisher gupta rahman and gupta calcutta collection universallibrary contributor braou language english. In a society that is seized by revolution classes are in conflict. Leon trotsky the history of the russian revolution volume one. After lenins death, trotsky lost the battle with stalin to take over power. As commissar for war trotsky introduced and built up the red army and led it to victory over the white army during the civil war that followed the revolution. Lev davidovich bronshtein, or leon trotsky, was born in 1879 to a jewish father in. Trotskys book is divided into 3 volumes, the overthrow of tsarism, the history of the russian revolution and the triumph of the soviets. The definitive account of the russian revolution by leon trotsky, its leader and key historian. Hasan sits down with bernie sanders patriot act with hasan minhaj netflix duration.
As this series of articles commemorating the russian revolution draws to its close, we should consider the single most compelling account of that moment. Born lev davidovich bronstein in southern ukraine, trotsky was both a. Isaac deutscher, trotskys biographer, described the history of the russian revolution as trotskys, crowning work, both in scale and power and as the fullest expression of his ideas on revolution. Jane mcdermid is senior lecturer in history at the university of. Published to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the 1917 russian revolution, this edition of trotsky s masterpiece, with a new foreword by ahmed shawki, tells the epic story of the remarkable events which transformed russian and world history forever. They were little known to anybody when the year began, and their leaders were still under indictment for state treason when. Leon trotsky on the july days 1930 russian revolution.
The great physicist albert einstein who belonged to the social democratic party in austria by the way, when reading about trotskys plight during the 1930s, undoubtedly came across his one lasting, and most pertinent contribution to literature, which is. Early career trotsky was born of jewish parents in the s ukraine. History of the russian revolution by leon trotsky, hardcover. Jan, 2017 trotsky may never have returned to the us, but his time in new york city did not pass unnoticed. In the spring of 1917, trotsky was a russian exile living in new york city when he first heard the news that a spontaneous revolution had toppled the 300year reign of the russian tsar. Leon trotskys history of the russian revolution chronicles the revolutionary process of 1917, the challenges for the young working class, its successive approximations, as it forged a course through first overthrowing the ancient rotten monarchy of the tsar in february, then casting off the newborn, rotten bourgeois democracy of the. He later served as the soviet commissar of foreign affairs 191718 and of war 191824. Organiser of the october 1917 bolshevik insurrection, leon trotsky produced one of the greatest analyses of the russian revolution. Although he fell out of favour within the soviet elite, and was eventually assassinated, his role was pivotal to the development of the soviet union in many ways.
During the revolution, trotsky oversaw soviet military operations in petrograd now st. During this time, trotsky directed the soviet military forces. Russian revolution replaced into unquestionably the worst element that surpassed off to russia because of the fact the mongol invasion in the thirteenth century. Leon trotsky was born on november 8th, 1879 in elisavetgrad, russia and died on august 21st 1940 in mexico city. The events destroyed the tsarist autocracy, and helped create the soviet union the first revolution was on 8 march 1917, but in russia it was recorded as 28 february 1917. But any reading of a serious history of the events in 1917 will show how trotskys name was inseparable from that. Translated by max eastman, 1932 library of congress catalog card number 8083994 isbn 09460834. In the preface, posted below, trotsky explains how unexpected the revolution of 1917 was. Leon trotskys life spanned the inspiring highs and tragic lows of the international socialist movement in the 20th centurya leader of the 1917 russian revolution that gave us our first and best.
What role did leon trotsky play in the russian revolution. Transcribed for the world wide web by john gowland australia, alphanos pangas greece and david walters united states, 1997 through 2000, reproofed 2018 as per ebook. The concluding section of trotskys work, the permanent revolution, where he briefly outlines the essential elements of his theory. A century has now passed since trotsky first set foot in the city of john d. Trotsky himself says the history of a revolution, like every other history, ought first of. Mar 01, 2010 russian revolution replaced into unquestionably the worst element that surpassed off to russia because of the fact the mongol invasion in the thirteenth century. During the first two months of 1917 russia was still a romanov monarchy. Leon trotsky was a key leader of the russian revolution. Appendix iii to trotskys history of the russian revolution where again he outlines some basic aspects of the theory. This extract from leon trotskys history of the russian revolution, published in 1930, describes the fate of the bolshevik party during the july days of 1917. This happened because russia still used the julian calendar instead of the gregorian calendar, which is the standard for measuring dates. Leon trotskys history of the russian revolution part 1. The history of a revolution is for us first of all a history of the forcible entrance of the masses into the realm of rulership over their own destiny. Trotsky quickly rose to a position of power in the party.
Leon trotsky was one notable beneficiary of the aftermath of the. My understanding of the russian revolution has been shaped by countless lectures. He was also known as lev davidovich bronstein for his real name. Leon trotsky played a fundamental role in the 1917 russian revolution, together with lenin. Top 10 books about the russian revolution books the guardian. Published to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the 1917 russian revolution, this edition of trotskys masterpiece, with a new foreword by ahmed shawki, tells the epic story of the remarkable events which transformed russian and world history forever. In vladimir lenins government in the russian revolution, leon trotsky first played the role of commissar for foreign affairs and then the leader of the red army. Jun 28, 2017 in the spring of 1917, trotsky was a russian exile living in new york city when he first heard the news that a spontaneous revolution had toppled the 300year reign of the russian tsar. The history of the russian revolution essay 1235 words. Trotsky may never have returned to the us, but his time in new york city did not pass unnoticed.
Leon trotsky the history of the russian revolution volume one the overthrow of tzarism online version. Introduction to leon trotsky, history of the russian revolution. During the first two months of 1917 russia was still a romanov. Translated by max eastman, 1932 library of congress catalog card number 8083994 isbn 09460834 transcribed for the world wide web by john gowland australia, alphanos pangas greece and david walters united states 1997 through 2000. Translated by max eastman, 1932 library of congress catalog card number 8083994 isbn 09460834 transcribed for the world wide web by john gowland australia, alphanos pangas greece and david walters united states 1997 through 2000 converted to ebook format by konstantine thoukydidis 2008. Leon trotskys study of literary movements within the young soviet republic, and his argument for a partisan but broadminded government policy towards those trends, is one of the essential works on the topic of. Leon trotsky as war commissar from march 1918, trotsky was in charge of creating a functional red army to defend the progress of the bolshevik revolution. Trotsky finished writing it in russian in 1930 and was then translated into english by max eastman in 1932.
History of the russian revolution by leon trotsky books on. Leon trotsky was one of the most important figures of the russian revolution, and of the early years of the soviet union. Comments on leon trotsky, soviet historiography, and the. List of books and articles about leon trotsky online. Aug 07, 2019 the history of the russian revolution.
Written by one of its leading participants, leon trotskys the history of the russian revolution was completed in 1930, with trotsky recently exiled from russia and living in turkey. There have been many attempts to distort and even to deny the role of trotsky, especially on the part of the official stalinist historians. The year 2007 is the 90th anniversary of the october revolution, an event that, from a marxist point of view, was the greatest single event in history. Where was trotsky when the russian revolution began. Eight months later the bolsheviks stood at the helm. Leon trotsky, the mastermind behind the lasting success of the revolution, helped to empower the citizens during this important event. The history of the russian revolution by leon trotsky is a threevolume book on the russian revolution of 1917. Leon trotsky was a communist theorist and soviet politician. Political opposition in the soviet state, first phase, 19171922 by. In the bolshevik government, he was second only to lenin and seemed destined to succeed him until joseph stalin outmaneuvered him politically and banished him from the soviet union. He played a key role in the russian revolution of 1917. Jul 01, 2008 leon trotsky was a leader of the russian revolution in 1917 and is the author of my life, the history of the russian revolution, and the revolution betrayed. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read history of the russian revolution. Revolutions, the russian revolutionary vladimir lenin wrote, must not by any means be.
Leon trotsky was a significant figure in marxist theory and politics and a crucial figure in the russian revolution. Forced into exile in 1928, trotsky devoted the rest of his life to fighting the degeneration of the revolution and rise of a new dictatorial regime. The russian revolution was a series of revolutions in the russian empire during 1917. The first volume primarily looks at russia under tsarism, the february revolution, the provisional government and the initial formulation of a new strategy upon the arrival of lenin back to russia. After the revolution the union of soviet socialist republics ussr was born, which eliminated poverty, established free medicine and highly subsidized housing, free education and job security. Chapter 1 the history of the russian revolution leon.
1626 1678 506 1608 321 1556 16 920 188 1271 868 1634 603 1431 1318 521 1574 1345 1319 1335 140 1458 152 1576 79 572 617 1642 887 1088 294 880 1645 1473 627 702 1660 99 290 772 400 1380 96 731 1154 753 1164 1185 164