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The Russian Revolution: The Overthrow of Tzarism and the Triumph of the Soviets | Selected and Edited by F. W. Dupee from the History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky
The Russian Revolution: The Overthrow of Tzarism and the Triumph of the Soviets | Selected and Edited by F. W. Dupee from the History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky
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A condensed, single-volume edition of Leon Trotsky’s monumental three-volume masterpiece, The History of the Russian Revolution. Selected and edited by literary critic F. W. Dupee and translated from the original Russian by Max Eastman, The Russian Revolution: The Overthrow of Tzarism and the Triumph of the Soviets compiles the core narrative and historical-materialist analysis of the 1917 events into an accessible, unified format.
Book Overview & Core Themes
Written in exile during the early 1930s, Trotsky provides an irreplaceable insider’s perspective on the collapse of the Romanov autocracy during the February Revolution, the volatile period of dual power under the Provisional Government, and the ultimate October Bolshevik insurrection. Rather than presenting a dry timeline, the text analyzes the deep socio-economic forces, class dynamics, and mass psychological shifts that drove a nation from monarchy to Soviet rule in just eight months.
Key areas examined within this work include:
- Firsthand tactical and political insights from a primary leader of the 1917 October Revolution and founder of the Red Army.
- Marxist historical-materialist analysis of state collapse, military crises, and class mobilization.
- The dual-power dynamic between the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government through the July Days and Kornilov affair.
- An anti-Stalinist, revolutionary-Marxist framing highlighting the mass-participatory character of early Soviet governance.
About the Author & Editors
Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) was a pivotal Marxist revolutionary, Soviet statesman, President of the Petrograd Soviet, and founder of the Red Army. Editor F. W. Dupee (1904–1979) was an influential American literary critic, Columbia University professor, and co-founder of Partisan Review. Translator Max Eastman (1883–1969) was a prominent American author, editor of The Masses, and public intellectual who lived in the Soviet Union during the 1920s.
Core Audience & Intended Use
- European & Soviet History Students: A foundational primary-source text for university courses covering 20th-century Russian history and revolutionary movements.
- Political Theorists & Analysts: Essential reading for studying Marxist historiography, state collapse, and political strategy.
- General Readers & Collectors: A streamlined, literary single-volume edition capturing one of the defining historical events of the modern era.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | The Russian Revolution: The Overthrow of Tzarism and the Triumph of the Soviets |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Leon Trotsky; Selected and Edited by F. W. Dupee |
| Publisher & Imprint | Anchor Books (Doubleday & Company, Inc.) |
| Publication Date | 1959 |
| Binding Format | Paperback (PB) |
| Print Length | 524 Pages |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 / ISBN-10 | 9780385093989 / 0385093985 |
| Primary Genre (BISAC) | HIS032000 / HISTORY / Europe / Russia & the Soviet Union |
| Sub-Genres (BISAC) | HIS010000 / 20TH CENTURY; POL005000 / COMMUNISM & SOCIALISM; HIS027000 / REVOLUTIONS |
| Item Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
| Dimensions & Weight | 4.25 x 1.00 x 7.10 inches | 12.8 oz (approx. 0.80 lbs) |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Russian Revolution
What primary historical scope, major political events, and core thesis are covered in this abridged edition of Trotsky's work?
Edited by literary critic F. W. Dupee from Leon Trotsky's massive three-volume History of the Russian Revolution, this single-volume narrative chronicles the explosive events of 1917—from the February Overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov Dynasty to the October Bolshevik Uprising and the establishment of Soviet power. Trotsky argues that the revolution was not a mere military coup by a small clique, but a profound, scientifically predictable movement driven by the active participation of the working class and peasant masses responding to systemic economic collapse and global war.
What unique primary-source perspective and political authority does Leon Trotsky bring to this history?
Unlike traditional academic historians observing from a distance, Leon Trotsky was a primary architect and leader of the 1917 uprising, serving as President of the Petrograd Soviet and founder of the Red Army. Writing during his exile in the early 1930s, Trotsky combines insider tactical knowledge of the Petrograd Soviet's inner workings with a rigorous Marxist historical-materialist framework, offering an irreplaceable firsthand analytical account of state collapse and revolutionary strategy.
How does editor F. W. Dupee streamline Trotsky's original multi-volume masterpiece for students and general readers?
Scholar and critic F. W. Dupee selectively condenses Trotsky’s exhaustive multi-volume text while preserving the literary brilliance, dramatic narrative pacing, and core theoretical arguments of the original work. Dupee retains Trotsky's crucial analytical chapters—such as his analyses of class forces, the dual-power dynamic of the Provisional Government, and Lenin's strategic role—making the monumental history accessible as a unified, single-volume academic text.
How is this volume evaluated in university history programs, political theory, and Marxist historiography?
The book remains a foundational text in university courses covering modern European history, Soviet studies, and political science. Historians and political theorists analyze the work not only as a masterclass in Marxist historiography and revolutionary theory, but also as a supreme literary achievement that captures the psychological and social dynamics of mass political mobilization.
What distinct literary and intellectual credentials defined editor F. W. Dupee?
Frederick Wilcox Dupee (1904–1979) was a distinguished American literary critic, editor, and Professor of English at Columbia University. A prominent figure among the "New York Intellectuals" and an editor for Partisan Review, Dupee was widely respected for his critical essays and biographical studies, bringing exceptional editorial oversight and scholarly rigor to Trotsky's historical prose for Western audiences.
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Condition Details & Grading:
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