Spies and Commissars : The Early Years of the Russian Revolution

Revolution: Troubling journeys ; Russia on its knees ; The Allied agenda ; Cheering for the Soviets ; Revolution and the world ; In the light of the fire ; Diplomatic impasse ; The other west -- Survival: Talks at Brest-Litovsk ; Breathing dangerously ; Revolts and murders ; Subverting the Allies ; Germany entreated ; Subverting Russia ; A very British plot ; The German capitulation -- Probings: Revolving the Russian question ; the Paris Peace Conference ; European revolution ; The Allies and the Whites ; Western agents ; Communism in America ; Soviet agents ; The Allied military withdrawal -- Stalemate: Bolshevism : for and against ; Left entrance ; The spreading of Comintern ; To Poland and beyond ; Trade talks abroad ; The economics of survival ; The second breathing space ; The unextinguished fire -- Postscript;Traces the power struggle between the Bolsheviks and the West at the dawn of the Russian Revolution, offering insight into the roles of diplomats, reporters, dissidents and others who impacted foreign policy throughout subsequent decades. The Early Years Of Bolshevik Rule Were Marked By Dynamic Interaction Between Russia And The West. These Years Of Civil War In Russia Were Years When The West Strove To Understand The New Communist Regime While Also Seeking To Undermine It. Meanwhile, The Bolsheviks Tried To Spread Their Revolution Across Europe At The Same Time They Were Seeking Trade Agreements That Might Revive Their Collapsing Economy. This Book Tells The Story Of These Complex Interactions In Detail, Revealing That Revolutionary Russia Was Shaped Not Only By Lenin And Trotsky, But By An Extraordinary Miscellany Of People: Spies And Commissars, Certainly, But Also Diplomats, Reporters, And Dissidents, As Well As Intellectuals, Opportunistic Businessmen, And Casual Travelers. This Is The Story Of These Characters: Everyone From The Ineffectual But Perfectly Positioned Somerset Maugham To Vain Writers And Revolutionary Sympathizers Whose Love Affairs Were As Dangerous As Their Politics. Through This Sharply Observed Exposé Of Conflicting Loyalties, We Get A Very Vivid Sense Of How Diverse The Shades Of Western And Eastern Political Opinion Were During These Years. The early years of Bolshevik rule were marked by dynamic interaction between Russia and the West. These years of civil war in Russia were years when the West strove to understand the new communist regime whilst also seeking to undermine it. Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks tried to spread their revolution across Europe at the same time they were seeking trade agreements that might revive their collapsing economy. This book tells the story of these complex interactions in detail, revealing that revolutionary Russia was shaped not only by Lenin and Trotsky, but by an extraordinary miscellany of people: spies and commissars, certainly, but also diplomats, reporters, and dissidents, as well as intellectuals, opportunistic businessmen, and casual travelers. This is the story of these characters: everyone from the ineffectual but perfectly positioned Somerset Maugham to vain writers and revolutionary sympathizers whose love affairs were as dangerous as their politics. Through this sharply observed expos of conflicting loyalties, we get a very vivid sense of how diverse the shades of Western and Eastern political opinion were during these years. The early years of Bolshevik rule were marked by dynamic interaction between Russia and the West. These years of civil war in Russia were years when the West strove to understand the new communist regime while also seeking to undermine it. Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks tried to spread their revolution across Europe at the same time they were seeking trade agreements that might revive their collapsing economy. This book tells the story of these complex interactions in detail, revealing that revolutionary Russia was shaped not only by Lenin and Trotsky, but by an extraordinary miscellany of people: spies and commissars, certainly, but also diplomats, reporters, and dissidents, as well as intellectuals, opportunistic businessmen, and casual travelers. This is the story of these characters: everyone from the ineffectual but perfectly positioned Somerset Maugham to vain writers and revolutionary sympathizers whose love affairs were as dangerous as their politics. Through this sharply observed exposéf conflicting loyalties, we get a very vivid sense of how diverse the shades of Western and Eastern political opinion were during these years. The dramatic story of the power struggle between the Bolsheviks and the West as the Russian Revolution erupted--and the characters from both sides who sought to affect the outcome Robert Service. Advance Reading Copy. --cover. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [402]-415) And Index.