A Short History of the Russian Revolution

‘Extremely exciting – beautifully designed intellectually.’ * Helen Castor, Fellow in History, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, UK * ‘In this compact book of just over 200 pages, Geoffrey Swain does a surprisingly good job of presenting a historical overview of the October Revolution...’ * Carlos Martinez, Morning Star * ‘A valuable contribution... offers a useful text for newcomers to the topic, especially undergraduate Students... an original and widely accessible contribution to scholarship on the Russian revolution. Swain should be commended for his bold and engaging thesis. A century on from 1917, his book will challenge and stimulate discussion amongst specialists and non-specialists alike.’ * European History Quarterly * This brilliant short history explains why Russian workers were a genuine revolutionary force that underpinned the rise of the Bolsheviks in 1917, and charts how by the autumn of 1918 hopes for a socialist coalition were dashed by Lenin’s preference for single-party dictatorship. A gripping tale, expertly and convincingly told. * Ian D. Thatcher, Professor of History, Ulster University, Ireland * Professor Swain has produced an immensely valuable introduction to the Russian Revolution which succeeds in being wide-ranging, stimulating and highly readable. The inclusion of items published around the centenary in 2017 ensures it is the most up-to-date account currently available. * Chris Read, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Warwick, UK *