The Unknown Revolution

The Unknown Revolution is a 1947 historical account of the Russian Revolution written by anarchist revolutionary Volin, published posthumously after his death in 1945. The book covers the period from 1917 to 1921, documenting key events and social movements during this turbulent time in Russian history. The text was originally published in French and later divided into two volumes for its English translation: "Nineteen-Seventeen: The Russian Revolution Betrayed" and "The Unknown Revolution: Kronstadt 1921, Ukraine 1918-21." Volin draws from his direct experiences as a participant in the revolutionary events, offering first-hand observations of the political and social transformations. The narrative focuses on lesser-known aspects of the revolution, including the Kronstadt uprising and the Ukrainian revolutionary movement. The book presents information about workers' councils, peasant organizations, and grassroots movements that shaped the revolution's course. The Unknown Revolution stands as a significant contribution to revolutionary historiography, presenting an anarchist perspective on the Russian Revolution that challenges conventional historical accounts. The work examines themes of power, freedom, and the relationship between revolutionary ideals and their practical implementation.

Readers appreciate Voline's firsthand account of the Russian Revolution and Makhnovist movement in Ukraine. Many note the book provides perspectives absent from mainstream histories, particularly on anarchist participation and popular resistance movements. Likes: - Detailed documentation of factory committees and workers' councils - Coverage of the Kronstadt rebellion - Personal observations of key events and figures Dislikes: - Dense writing style with long passages - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited availability of English translations - Lack of maps and visual aids Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (11 ratings) Common reader feedback highlights the book's value as a primary source, though several note it requires patient reading. One reviewer on Goodreads writes: "Crucial historical account from someone who lived through it, but the writing can be dry." Multiple readers recommend starting with Part II (The Ukraine) for the most engaging content.

The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin Analysis of revolutionary economics and social organization from a foundational anarchist perspective that shares Volin's vision of worker self-management.

History of the Makhnovist Movement by Peter Arshinov First-hand account of the Ukrainian anarchist movement that intersects with Volin's coverage of the same events in The Unknown Revolution.

Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed Eyewitness chronicle of the Russian Revolution's early days that provides complementary perspective to Volin's account from a different political standpoint.

The Bolsheviks and Workers' Control by Maurice Brinton Documentation of the relationship between workers' movements and state power during the Russian Revolution that expands on themes in Volin's work.

The Revolution Betrayed by Leon Trotsky Critical examination of the Soviet Union's development that presents a different revolutionary perspective on events Volin describes.

★ Voline was the pen name of Vsevolod Mikhailovich Eikhenbaum, a prominent Russian anarchist who initially supported the Bolsheviks before becoming one of their vocal critics ★ The book was published posthumously in 1947, as Voline passed away before completing his final revisions - his friends and fellow activists helped prepare the manuscript for publication ★ During the events he describes, Voline worked as an editor for an anarchist newspaper and helped organize the Confederaton of Anarchist Organizations of Ukraine "Nabat" ★ The Unknown Revolution is one of the few comprehensive anarchist perspectives on the Russian Revolution written by someone who actively participated in the events ★ The original title in French was "La Révolution Inconnue," and it was first translated to English in 1954 by Holley Cantine, an American anarchist publisher