A people's tragedy

Name: A people's tragedy
ISBN: 014024364X

by Orlando Figes · first published 1996

7mentions

5recommended by

5HN commenters

2010–2020first – last mentioned

100% recommend

Why HN recommends it

Broad narrative history of the Russian Revolution from 1891 to 1924, covering the social upheaval and its human toll. Well written and worthwhile for readers new to the period.

Summarised by Claude from recommending comments

Fiction & Literature Biography & Memoir History

It is a history on an epic yet human scale. Orlando Figes provides a panorama of Russian society on the eve of the revolution, and then narrates the story of how these social forces were violently suppressed. Within the broad strokes of war and revolution are miniature histories of individuals - pieced together from their private writings - in which Figes follows the main players' fortunes as they saw their hopes die and their world crash into ruins. There is the patriotic general Brusilov, the progressive peasant Semenov, the critical socialist Maxim Gorky...individuals whose lives collapsed

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What Hacker News says

ChildOfEru · Sep 13, 2015 · Recommends

"A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924" by Orlando Figes http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014024364X
on “Ask HN: Great nontech book that you read recently?” ↗
kailden · Dec 12, 2018 · Recommends

…Indies. Much better than expected from the cover. Gates of Fire - Historical fiction that tells the story of the Spartan 300 and the battle of Thermopylae. Lived up to it’s high recommendation. A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924 - still working my way through this detailed tome, but enjoying the style of the author.
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗
arethuza · Jun 2, 2020 · Recommends

I found A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes an excellent account of the times (NB obviously I am not a historian): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_People%27s_Tragedy Surprisingly readable given its length.
on “Soviet Posters” ↗
clucas · Feb 5, 2019 · Recommends

A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924, by Orlando Figes Unfortunately not available in electronic form, but well worth the trouble of paper.
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗
gPphX · Jan 12, 2016 · Recommends

…Döblin, Alfred - Berlin Alexanderplatz Dos Passos, John - 42nd Parallel, The Edwards, Frank - Strange People Elliot, T.S. - Waste Land, The Faulkner, William - As I Lay Dying Figes, Orlando - A People’s Tragedy Fitzgerald, F. Scott - Great Gatsby, The Flaubert, Gustave - Madame Bovary Friedrich, Otto - Before The Deluge Gillete, Charlie - Sound Of The City: The Rise Of Rock And Roll, The Ginzburg, Eugenia - Journey…
on “David Bowie’s Top 100 Books (2013)” ↗
arethuza · Aug 2, 2010 · Recommends

Recent favorites of mine: Anathem - Neal Stephenson A People's Tragedy: Russian Revolution, 1891-1924 - Orlando Figes The Big Short - Michael Lewis
on “Ask HN: Summer Reading Recommendations?” ↗
clucas · Feb 5, 2019 · Mentions

…I did not know that. I see by your other comment that you've done more research into this than I have - I'll take a look at r/askhistorians. Thanks for the heads up and the suggestions. I picked up A People's Tragedy after reading Figes's book on the Crimean War - do you happen to know if that book is similarly criticized? In other words, should I put a mental asterisk just next to A People's Tragedy, or next to everything…
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗