The Bolsheviks Come to Power: The Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd

'The best volume on the Russian Revolution in years … What is so valuable about the book is that it undoes both rigid stereotypes: that the Leninism is inherently and always ‘correct’, pointing straight toward revolutionary triumph, and that of Leninism as always rigidly authoritarian, pointing straight toward dictatorship. A first-rate piece of work.' Irving Howe 'Alexander Rabinowitch … has written what is perhaps the fullest and most reliable account of the Bolshevik seizure of power currently available in English … Based on a solid command of the sources, it is scholarly and well documented yet accessible to the general reader, with its clear and vigorous style and interesting illustrations … Should be read by every person interested in the Russian Revolution.' Paul Avrich, Russian Review 'The Bolsheviks Come To Power is one of the most important books on the Russian Revolution of 1917 to appear in many years. It is revisionist scholarship in the best and truest sense. Both political and social history, it greatly expands on our detailed knowledge of the turbulent events of that year, while deepening and revising our understanding of the Bolshevik Party and the social factors that brought it to power.' Stephen F. Cohen