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

"The Red Wheel is Solzhenitsyn's magnum opus about the Russian Revolution. Solzhenitsyn tells this story in the form of a meticulously researched historical novel, supplemented by newspaper headlines of the day, fragments of street action, cinematic screenplay, and historical overview. The first two nodes, August 1914 and November 1916, focus on Russia's crises and recovery, on revolutionary terrorism and its suppression, on the missed opportunity of Pyotr Stolypin's reforms, and how the surge of patriotism in August 1914 soured as Russia bled in World War I. The third node, March 1917, tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which not only does the Imperial government melt in the face of the mob, but the leaders of the opposition prove utterly incapable of controlling the course of events. The action of book 1 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 8-12. The absorbing narrative tells the stories of more than fifty characters during the days when the Russian Empire begins to crumble. Bread riots in the capital, Petrograd, go unchecked at first, and the police are beaten and killed by mobs. Efforts to put down the violence using the army trigger a mutiny in the numerous reserve regiments housed in the city, who kill their officers and go and rampage. The anti-Tsarist bourgeois opposition, horrified by the violence, scrambles to declare that it is provisionally taking power, while socialists immediately create a Soviet alternative to undermine it. Meanwhile, Emperor Nikolai II is away at military headquarters and his wife Aleksandra is isolated outside Petrograd, caring for their sick children. Suddenly, the viability of the Russian state itself is called into question. The Red Wheel has been compared to Tolstoy's War and Peace, for each work aims to narrate the story of an era in a way that elevates its universal significance"-- Publisher's description Cover Half Title Title page Copyright Contents TUESDAY, 13 MARCH CHAPTER 171 / 1 Shlyapnikov’s worries. – Must save Gorky! CHAPTER 172 / 3 The Emperor in his train car before departure. CHAPTER 173 / 5 Shlyapnikov takes the garden paths to Serdoboloskaya. CHAPTER 174 / 7 The Nekrasov brothers face the firing squad. CHAPTER 175 / 12 The voyenka at night’s end. – Livelier in the morning CHAPTER 176 / 16 Ensigns Andrusov and Grimm join the revolution DOCUMENTS – 2 / 19 From dispatches to the Military Commission CHAPTER 177 / 20 The spirit of the French Revolution CHAPTER 178 / 26 Khabalov’s detachment in its final inaction CHAPTER 179 / 30 The Bolsheviks’ manifesto. CHAPTER 180 / 32 Kutepov in the mirror room. CHAPTER 181 / 35 Rodzyanko prepares new telegrams CHAPTER 182 / 40 The morning in Petrograd (fragments) CHAPTER 183 / 45 Calculations of the Baltic Fleet leaders DOCUMENTS – 3 / 48 Rodzyanko to all commanders CHAPTER 184 / 48 The Empress gets no support. – Should they go? Should they stay? CHAPTER 185 / 52 Wheeled battalion smashed. – Balkashin’s death. CHAPTER 186 / 55 Shingarev’s condition CHAPTER 187 / 57 Nikolai Iudovich delays departure. – Khabalov’s telegraphed replies. CHAPTER 188 / 59 Khabalov’s detachment capitulates CHAPTER 189 / 61 General Alekseev’s loyalty CHAPTER 190 / 65 Engineer Bublikov seizes Ministry of Roads and Railways CHAPTER 191 / 71 Arrest of Khabalov’s remaining generals CHAPTER 192 / 75 Igor Krivoshein arrested CHAPTER 193 / 79 Executive Committee in commotion CHAPTER 194 / 84 Peshekhonov assumes the Petersburg CHAPTER 195 / 88 Moscow Regiment officers in the Duma CHAPTER 196 / 91 Guchkov in the Duma CHAPTER 197 / 95 Obodovsky at the Military Commission CHAPTER 198 / 100 Baron Raden’s adventures in Petrograd CHAPTER 199 / 102 In the royal train. – Alarming telegrams. – Reassuring signs CHAPTER 200 / 106 Bonch-Bruevich: commissar for the printing presses CHAPTER 201 / 109 Panic in the crush of the Soviet CHAPTER 202 / 112 Urgent concerns for the Military Commission CHAPTER 203 / 116 Daytime in Petrograd (fragments) CHAPTER 204 / 120 Captain Nelidov in a worker’s apartment CHAPTER 205 / 124 Lenartovich brings order to Kamennoostrovsky CHAPTER 206 / 126 Grand Duke Pavel goes to the Empress CHAPTER 207 / 130 The Interdistrict group. CHAPTER 208 / 133 Clemency for the Wheeled unit officers CHAPTER 209 / 135 Nina Kaul’s impulse CHAPTER 210 / 140 Protopopov wends through the city CHAPTER 211 / 147 How Prince Lvov was drawn into a political career CHAPTER 212 / 152 Kutepov forces his way into the regimental officers’ club CHAPTER 213 / 155 They’re cutting ham with a sword DOCUMENTS – 4 / 158 From Military Commission papers CHAPTER 214 / 158 Alekseev’s doubts about the situation and about sending troops CHAPTER 215 / 160 At Kalisa’s for the day CHAPTER 216 / 162 At the Moscow City Duma CHAPTER 217 / 166 The royal train at Rzhev. – At Likhoslavl CHAPTER 218 / 168 The Duma deputies’ day CHAPTER 219 / 170 Rodzyanko’s trials, travails, and tribulations CHAPTER 220 / 174 The evening (fragments) CHAPTER 221 / 178 Engineer Lomonosov mobilizes CHAPTER 222 / 180 General Staffers arrive at the Military Commission CHAPTER 223 / 183 The rescued Moscow men roam around the Tauride Palace CHAPTER 224 / 187 Dinner with Gorky at Manukhin’ CHAPTER 225 / 191 Milyukov foresees the Duma’s demise CHAPTER 226 / 196 Protopopov’s arrest CHAPTER 227 / 198 The regime of the ministerial pavilion and its prisoners CHAPTER 228 / 202 Ominous rumors at the Tsarskoye Selo palace CHAPTER 229 / 207 The royal train at Vyshni Volochok. – At Bologoye CHAPTER 230 / 209 Tribulations of a Convoy half-hundred. – They go to see Karaulov CHAPTER 231 / 212 Lomonosov arrives at Bublikov’s office CHAPTER 232 / 215 General Evert’s frustration CHAPTER 233 / 219 Rozdyanko calms Alekseev. – Alekseev’s mood brightens DOCUMENTS – 5 / 222 Telegram no. 1833 CHAPTER 234 / 222 Rodzyanko’s heroic night CHAPTER 235 / 224 The royal trains diverted at Malaya Vishera CHAPTER 236 / 226 The Moscow men spend the night at the Tauride Palace CHAPTER 237 / 228 The Preobrazhensky Regiment stopped at Lutsk WEDNESDAY, 14 MARCH CHAPTER 238 / 231 Officers from Siberia arrive in Petrograd CHAPTER 239 / 234 Bublikov and Lomonosov. – Detain the Tsar DOCUMENTS – 6 / 237 Bublikov’s telegram to the Dno station CHAPTER 240 / 237 Rodzyanko’s plan to go to an audience with the Emperor DOCUMENTS – 7 / 240The Military Commission – to officers in Petrograd. CHAPTER 241 / 240 Vorotyntsev through early morning Moscow CHAPTER 242 / 243 The Emperor detained? – The Empress’s guard melts away CHAPTER 243 / 246 Admiral Nepenin leads DOCUMENTS – 8 / 248 From the papers of the Military Commission CHAPTER 244 / 248 Himmer and the question of government CHAPTER 245 ' ' / 251 (from the bulletin of Petrograd journalists) CHAPTER 246 / 252 Evert completely discouraged, and GHQ is not explaining CHAPTER 247 / 255 Imperial trains at Valdai. – At Staraya Russa CHAPTER 248 / 258 General Alekseev’s back-and-forth. Halting the Southwest Army Group regiments CHAPTER 249 / 262 Petrograd, early in the day (fragments) CHAPTER 250 / 266 Chaos at the commissariat. Peshekhonov takes pains DOCUMENTS – 9 / 271 Engelhardt’s order CHAPTER 251 / 271 Colonel Polovtsov at the Military Commission CHAPTER 252 ' ' / 275 (from Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers’ Deputies) CHAPTER 253 / 277 Gathering of officers at the Hall of the Army and Navy CHAPTER 254 / 282 Cavalry Captain Voronovich. – The mutiny spreads across Luga CHAPTER 255 / 287 The EC discusses taking power CHAPTER 256 / 292 Permit or forbid Rodzyanko to go see the Tsar CHAPTER 257 / 294 Colonel Kutepov walks to the Preobrazhensky barracks CHAPTER 258 / 298 Rodzyanko handicapped and constrained CHAPTER 259 / 303 The soldier Soviet rages about officers CHAPTER 260 / 307 Captain Nelidov back at his battalion. – Devastation CHAPTER 261 / 311 Vorotyntsev at Moscow Military District headquarters CHAPTER 262 / 318 Kutepov in the Tauride. – Athens CHAPTER 263 / 320 General Ivanov’s train crawls ahead CHAPTER 264 / 323 General Belyaev in hiding. – Becoming a private citizen CHAPTER 265 / 325 Petrograd during the day (fragments) CHAPTER 266 / 329 Grand Duke Kirill in the Tauride Palace CHAPTER 267 / 332 Guchkov’s efforts and thoughts CHAPTER 268 / 334 Royal train at the Dno station CHAPTER 269 / 338 Lenartovich in Kshesinskaya’s mansion CHAPTER 270 / 340 Machine-gun regiment descends on Peshekhonov CHAPTER 271 / 342 Paschal joy at the Public Library. – Vera at home CHAPTER 272 / 345 Vorotyntsev in Moscow, torn where to go CHAPTER 273 / 348 The Executive Committee completes debate on taking power CHAPTER 274 / 352 Murders in Luga, the mutiny widens CHAPTER 275 / 356 Alekseev steps up persuasion of the Emperor CHAPTER 276 / 359 General Sukhomlinov arrested. – A windmill CHAPTER 277 / 362I nto the evening and night CHAPTER 278 / 366 Shulgin in the Duma maelstrom CHAPTER 279 / 369 Rodzyanko abandons hope for his journey CHAPTER 280 / 371 Bublikov’s moves and plans. – Not appreciated in the Duma CHAPTER 281 / 374 General Ruzsky’s former service CHAPTER 282 / 381 Grand Duke Mikhail at the Putyatins’ apartment CHAPTER 283 / 385 Order No. 1 takes shape CHAPTER 284 / 391 The Maklakov brothers CHAPTER 285 / 396 Ruzsky demands a responsible ministry CHAPTER 286 / 403 Duma Deputies at Tsarskoye Selo CHAPTER 287 / 407 General Ivanov arrives at Tsarskoye CHAPTER 288 / 411 The murder of Captain Fergen CHAPTER 289 / 413 Milyukov’s unique political preparation CHAPTER 290 / 417 Himmer prepares for negotiations CHAPTER 291 / 419 General Ruzsky among the Tsar’s suit CHAPTER 292 / 423 Dmitri Vyazemsky wounded. – Guchkov alongside the dying man CHAPTER 293 / 429 Milyukov’s negotiations with the Soviet about the government’s program CHAPTER 294 / 435 General Alekseev’s torment. – Western Amy Group regiments halted CHAPTER 295 / 439 A crushed Rodzyanko goes to the General Staff CHAPTER 296 / 442 General Ivanov with the Empress. – He departs Tsarskoye Selo CHAPTER 297 / 448 Evert’s isolation. – Regiments stopped CHAPTER 298 / 450 Milyukov’s negotiations with the Soviet continue CHAPTER 299 / 455 The bows of revolution CHAPTER 300 / 455 Ruzsky and Rodzyanko speak by telegraph CHAPTER 301 / 460 Rodzyanko again on wings CHAPTER 302 / 461 Soviets soften “Order No. 1” during printing CHAPTER 303 / 464 Guchkov breaks Milyukov’s agreement with the Soviets CHAPTER 304 / 469 Borodino Life Guards disarmed at Luga Station THURSDAY, 15 MARCH CHAPTER 305 / 473 Northern Army Group headquarters opens the way to the Petrograd news CHAPTER 306 / 476 General Alekseev waits for news from Pskov CHAPTER 307 / 482 Milyukov’s life. – Maneuvers in forming a government CHAPTER 308 / 487 GHQ turns to the commanders-in-chief to support the abdication CHAPTER 309 / 490 The Emperor’s difficult morning CHAPTER 310 ' ' / 495 (from Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers’ Deputies) CHAPTER 311 / 497 Admiral Nepenin proceeds decisively CHAPTER 312 / 499 Bazarov’s betraya CHAPTER 313 / 501 Morning to afternoon in Petrograd (fragments) CHAPTER 314 / 504 Stankevich leads engineers to the Duma CHAPTER 3 1 5 / 507Peshekhonov in the House of the People CHAPTER 316 / 510 Ksenia during Moscow’s revolutionary days CHAPTER 317 ' ' / 513 (from the first newspapers) CHAPTER 318 / 515 The Military Commission runs nothing CHAPTER 319 / 518 The Empress’s morning. – Everyone had betrayed them CHAPTER 320 / 522 Evert thrashes under the ultimatum. – Might wins out CHAPTER 321 / 527 Alekseev puts pressure on the commanders-in-chief CHAPTER 322 / 529 Vorotyntsev on the Kiev train CHAPTER 323 / 530 Shingarev in the Food Supply Commission CHAPTER 324 / 535 Shlyapnikov rushes about, searches for the right plac CHAPTER 325 / 537 Soldiers at the Soviet. – Kerensky’s circus CHAPTER 326 / 541 Dmitri Vyazemsky dies. – Guchkov and Shulgin on their way to Pskov CHAPTER 327 / 544 Three generals with the Empero CHAPTER 328 / 549 Milyukov in the Ekaterininsky Hall announces the creation of a Provisional Government CHAPTER 329 / 557 General Ivanov maneuvers. – At the Susanino station DOCUMENTS – 1 0 / 561 General Sakharov’s telegram CHAPTER 330 / 561 Kutepov at the Preobrazhensky Battalion for the last time CHAPTER 331 / 565 GHQ languishes in anticipation of abdication CHAPTER 332 / 568 Trepov at Krivoshein’s CHAPTER 333 / 573 Soviet votes not to join the government CHAPTER 334 / 575 Himmer’s unsuccessful speech to the crowd CHAPTER 335 / 577 Likonya: “He’s calling me CHAPTER 3 36 / 578 Rodzyanko realizes he is Head of the Russian State CHAPTER 337 / 581 Ruzsky refuses to return the Tsar’s abdication telegram CHAPTER 338 / 587 Foment a revolution in Sweden, not Switzerland! CHAPTER 339 / 599 Kerensky the minister introduces himself to the Ekaterininsky Hall CHAPTER 340 / 603 Fragments from the afternoon and evening CHAPTER 341 / 606 Guchkov at the Luga station. – Will they let him pass CHAPTER 342 / 609 The Empress prepares to send letters to the Emperor with officers CHAPTER 343 / 610 The revolution comes to Rostov. – At the Arkhangorodskys’ CHAPTER 344 / 615 Conclusion of talks between the EC and government CHAPTER 345 / 620 En route. Shulgin works on the draft manifesto CHAPTER 346 / 623 Alekseev supports Kornilov’s appointment CHAPTER 347 / 626 First session of the Provisional Government CHAPTER 348 / 630 The Tauride Palace’s defilement CHAPTER 349 / 634 Guchkov and Shulgin in the royal train car CHAPTER 350 / 650 Sending the ministers to the Peter and Paul Fortress CHAPTER 351 / 655 Dinner with Ruzsky DOCUMENTS – 1 1 / 660 General Ivanov’s telegram CHAPTER 352 / 660 General Alekseev’s headquarters training CHAPTER 353 / 662 The Emperor alone MAP S / 667 INDEX OF NAMES / 675 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's March 1917, Book 2 , covers three days of the February Revolution when the nation unraveled, leading to the Bolshevik takeover eight months later. The Red Wheel is Nobel Prize–winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's multivolume epic work about the Russian Revolution. He spent decades writing about just four of the most important periods, or "nodes.” This is the first time that the monumental March 1917―the third node―has been translated into English. It tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which the Imperial government melts in the face of the mob, and the giants of the opposition also prove incapable of controlling the course of events. The action of Book 2 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 13–15, 1917, the Russian Revolution's turbulent second week. The revolution has already won inside the capital, Petrograd. News of the revolution flashes across all Russia through the telegraph system of the Ministry of Roads and Railways. But this is wartime, and the real power is with the army. At Emperor Nikolai II’s order, the Supreme Command sends troops to suppress the revolution in Petrograd. Meanwhile, victory speeches ring out at Petrograd's Tauride Palace. Inside, two parallel power structures emerge: the Provisional Government and the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers’ Deputies, which sends out its famous "Order No. 1," presaging the destruction of the army. The troops sent to suppress the Petrograd revolution are halted by the army’s own top commanders. The Emperor is detained and abdicates, and his ministers are jailed and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. This sweeping, historical novel is a must-read for Solzhenitsyn's many fans, as well as those interested in twentieth-century history, Russian history and literature, and military history. "The Red Wheel is Nobel Prize-winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's multivolume epic work about the Russian Revolution. He spent decades writing about just four of the most important periods, or "nodes." This is the first time that the monumental March 1917--the third node--has been translated into English. It tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which the Imperial government melts in the face of the mob, and the giants of the opposition also prove incapable of controlling the course of events. The action of Book 2 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 13-15, 1917, the Russian Revolution's turbulent second week. The revolution has already won inside the capital, Petrograd. News of the revolution flashes across all Russia through the telegraph system of the Ministry of Roads and Railways. But this is wartime, and the real power is with the army. At Emperor Nikolai II's order, the Supreme Command sends troops to suppress the revolution in Petrograd. Meanwhile, victory speeches ring out at Petrograd's Tauride Palace. Inside, two parallel power structures emerge: the Provisional Government and the Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which sends out its famous "Order No. 1," presaging the destruction of the army. The troops sent to suppress the Petrograd revolution are halted by the army's own top commanders. The Emperor is detained and abdicates, and his ministers are jailed and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. This sweeping, historical novel is a must-read for Solzhenitsyn's many fans, as well as those interested in twentieth-century history, Russian history and literature, and military history." -- Jacket flap