Exploring the concept of freedom, the book emphasizes that true liberty involves active goodness rather than merely the absence of oppression. It argues that freedom is not a gift but a shared responsibility, highlighting the importance of solidarity in achieving genuine freedom for all. The interconnectedness of individual and collective freedom is a central theme, suggesting that one's liberty is inherently tied to the freedom of others.
A gripping story of ancient wisdom, new technology and 'the king of the world's booksellers', set in Renaissance Florence 'A marvel of storytelling and a masterclass in the history of the book' WALL STREET JOURNAL The Renaissance in Florence conjures images of beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings - the dazzling handiwork of the city's artists and architects. But equally important were geniuses of another kind- Florence's manuscript hunters, scribes, scholars and booksellers. At a time where all books were made by hand, these people helped imagine a new and enlightened world.
Vast in scope and rich in original research, this profound account of the Russian Revolution captures the event's epic yet human scale. The author presents a panorama of Russian society before the revolution and narrates the violent erasure of these social forces. The narrative is enhanced by individual stories drawn from private writings, following figures like the patriotic general Brusilov, the progressive peasant Semenov, and the critical socialist Maxim Gorky, as they witness their hopes crumble and their world disintegrate. This unique perspective portrays the revolution as a tragedy for both the Russian people and individuals caught in its turmoil. The author emphasizes that the major social forces—peasants, workers, soldiers, and the empire's subject peoples—were not merely victims of the Bolsheviks but also active participants in their own complex revolutionary narratives. The text argues that the failure of democracy in 1917 was deeply rooted in Russian culture and social history, suggesting that what began as a people's revolution harbored the seeds of its degeneration into violence and dictatorship. This work serves as a compelling exploration of one of the century's most significant events.
Uncovering his family's remarkable and moving stories, Mark Mazower recounts the sacrifices and silences that marked a generation and their descendants. It was a family that fate drove into the siege of Stalingrad, the Vilna ghetto, occupied Paris, and even into the ranks of the Wehrmacht. His British father was the lucky one, the son of Russian Jewish emigrants who settled in London after escaping the civil war and revolution. Max, the grandfather, had started out as a socialist and manned the barricades against tsarist troops, but never spoke of it. His wife, Frouma, came from a family ravaged by the Great Terror yet somehow making their way in Soviet society. In the centenary of the Russian Revolution, What You Did Not Tell recounts a brand of socialism erased from memory - humanistic, impassioned, and broad-ranging in its sympathies. But it also explores the unexpected happiness that may await history's losers, the power of friendship, and the love of place that allowed Max and Fro