Russia's Second Revolution: The February 1917 Uprising in Petrograd

Russia's Second Revolution: The February 1917 Uprising in Petrograd examines the events leading up to and during the February Revolution in Russia's capital city. The work focuses on the five days that transformed Russia's political landscape and ended the Romanov dynasty. Through extensive research and primary sources, Dawisha reconstructs the actions and decisions of key figures including Tsar Nicholas II, military commanders, and revolutionary leaders. The narrative tracks how small protests and bread riots escalated into mass demonstrations that ultimately overwhelmed government forces. The book analyzes the complex web of military units, worker organizations, and political groups that shaped events on the ground in Petrograd. Military defections, street battles, and the paralysis of state institutions receive detailed treatment. This account of the February Revolution's outbreak challenges conventional interpretations about its spontaneity and inevitability. The work raises questions about the relationship between popular uprisings and institutional collapse in times of war and crisis.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Karen Dawisha's overall work: Readers value Dawisha's detailed research and documentation in "Putin's Kleptocracy," citing her extensive use of primary sources and financial records. Many note the book's relevance to current events and its early warnings about Putin's regime. What readers liked: - Clear presentation of complex financial connections - Thorough citations and evidence - Accessible writing style for non-academics - Precise timeline of Putin's rise to power Common criticisms: - Dense material can be overwhelming - Some sections repeat information - Name-heavy passages are difficult to follow - Early chapters require background knowledge of Soviet history Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (890+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Like reading a prosecutor's brief - methodical and devastating." An Amazon reviewer wrote: "The sheer volume of details sometimes buries the main narrative." Her earlier books received less attention from general readers, with most reviews coming from academic sources.

The Russian Revolution by Richard Pipes This detailed account focuses on the social and political forces leading to the Bolshevik seizure of power in 1917, with emphasis on the urban dynamics in St. Petersburg.

October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miéville The book chronicles the events of 1917 through the perspectives of workers, soldiers, and citizens in Petrograd, providing street-level insights into the revolution's progression.

Three Whys of the Russian Revolution by Richard Pipes The text examines the collapse of the tsarist regime, the Bolsheviks' rise to power, and the establishment of a one-party dictatorship through analysis of key turning points in 1917.

The Last of the Tsars: Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution by Robert Service This work traces Nicholas II's final months through primary sources, connecting the Tsar's decisions to the February Revolution's outbreak and aftermath.

Revolutionary Russia, 1891-1991: A History by Orlando Figes The narrative links the February Revolution to broader patterns in Russian history, showing its connection to earlier reforms and later Soviet developments.

🔹 Author Karen Dawisha spent over 30 years studying Russian politics and served as an advisor to the U.S. State Department during the collapse of the Soviet Union. 🔹 The February Revolution marked the first time in Russian history that women played a central role in sparking a major political uprising, beginning with a demonstration on International Women's Day. 🔹 Despite being a pivotal moment that ended 300 years of Romanov rule, the February Revolution was largely spontaneous and unplanned, taking most revolutionary leaders by surprise. 🔹 During the February events, many soldiers in Petrograd initially fired on protesters but later switched sides, with approximately 150,000 troops eventually joining the revolution. 🔹 The speed of the revolution was remarkable - it took only 8 days from the first bread riots to the Tsar's abdication, fundamentally changing Russia's political structure with relatively little bloodshed compared to the later October Revolution.