March 1917: The Red Wheel, Node III, Book 2 (The Center for Ethics and Culture Solzhenitsyn Series)

Extremely well written, very detailed with vivid characters (real and fictional) it puts you in the events as if you were part of the events themselves. You will be able to align yourself with one or more of the characters regardless of your political leanings. Apply the insights to society today and you will be more aware of current events and the trends of history.

The Red Wheel series is the ultimate Russian historical novel. This volume gives you the feeling of actually living through the revolution. And this through the eyes of dozens of participants from the tsar down to common soldiers and radicals. I believe Solzhenitsyn had intended to carry through at least the death of Lenin or the rise of Stalin but his time ran out. The great shame for Western literatur is that this is only now being translated and published.

I've read all of the Red Wheel Nodes: August 1914, November 1916 and Part 1 of March 1917 Node III Book 1, can't wait to read Book 2, Can't wait to get Book 3 and complete the saga.

This 2 volume continuation of the Red Wheel series is a minute by minute history of the 1917 Revolution in Petrograd and the end of the Romanov Dynasty. It is not an easy read as the Russian participants are not familiar to most Americans, and there are hundreds of names. Politicians, Generals, revolutionaries, workers, soldiers and the residents of Petrograd are the subject of this “novel.” These were real people, but Solzhenitsyn brings them to life by creating dialogue and action to support the historical actors. He is a great writer and he is at the height of his powers to describe the end of Imperial Russia. The violence of the revolution is described in detail as police, military officers and other representatives of the state are the targets of the forces of revolution. The creation of new authorities in the Duma and the Soviet of Workers and Soldier deputies are created and came into conflict with each other. The personal grief of Nicholas and Alexandra are portrayed in their separate ordeals along with the rest of their families and retainers. Even Lenin makes an appearance at the end of the book in his Swiss exile. Solzhenitsyn is not a mere reporter creating a kind of “you are there” set of scenarios. His point of view is an intrusion into the history as he describes his version of events. The revolution is devastating to society and to the people’s daily lives. Thousands roam the streets and vigilante justice is taken on those who are not wearing a red bow or flying a red flag. Yet the voices of the people have had enough of the old regime and demands immediate change. The election of representatives and military officers as Order # 1 is promulgated by the Petrograd Soviet. The conflict between the Provisional Government and Soviet is explained as they begin to assert their authority. The story is intriguing and the character development is outstanding, even if the author is less than omniscient. His presence is felt in the descriptions of the actors. The translation is excellent and it is unfortunate that Solzhenitsyn did not live to complete the epic. One more volume, April 1917 is still left to translate and I look forward to its publication.

I read this in e book format as soon as I got it and simply delayed writing a review. Obviously these stories need to be rad in order but it gives you an new appreciation of the Russian Revolution in Solzhenitsyn's masterful style. I highly recommend this book

I have really enjoyed this series, particularly the new translations by Ms. Schwartz. This is a great read, even if the parallels between Russia in 1917 and the USA in 2020 are scary.

Excellent

New book: the book cover arrived filthy from shelf wear.... Tried to clean it and was no help. Very disappointed with such bad service.