March 1917

Solzhenitsyn's magnum opus delves into the Russian Revolution through a meticulously researched historical novel enriched with contemporary newspaper headlines, street action fragments, and cinematic screenplay elements. The narrative unfolds in three key nodes: August 1914 and November 1916, which explore Russia's crises, revolutionary terrorism, and the missed opportunities of Pyotr Stolypin's reforms, culminating in the disillusionment of patriotism as World War I ravages the nation. The third node, March 1917, captures the essence of the Russian Revolution, detailing the collapse of the Imperial government amid mob violence and the opposition's inability to steer events. Set from March 8-12, the first book introduces over fifty characters during the tumultuous days when the Russian Empire begins to disintegrate. Bread riots in Petrograd escalate unchecked, leading to police casualties and army mutinies. The horrified anti-Tsarist bourgeoisie rush to claim provisional power, while socialists establish a Soviet to challenge their authority. Meanwhile, Emperor Nikolai II is away at military headquarters, leaving his wife, Aleksandra, isolated with their sick children. The stability of the Russian state hangs in the balance, drawing comparisons to Tolstoy's War and Peace, as both works aim to narrate an era's story with universal significance.