Caught in the Revolution

Petrograd, Russia, 1917 - a World on the Edge

By: Helen Rappaport

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Romanov Sisters, Caught in the Revolution is Helen Rappaport's masterful telling of the outbreak of the Russian Revolution through eyewitness accounts left by foreign nationals who saw the drama unfold.

Between the first revolution in February 1917 and Lenin's Bolshevik coup in October, Petrograd (the former St. Petersburg) was in turmoil - felt nowhere more keenly than on the fashionable Nevsky Prospekt. There, the foreign visitors who filled hotels, clubs, offices, and embassies were acutely aware of the chaos breaking out on their doorsteps and beneath their windows.

Among this disparate group were journalists, diplomats, businessmen, bankers, governesses, volunteer nurses, and expatriate socialites. Many kept diaries and wrote letters home: from an English nurse who had already survived the sinking of the Titanic to the black valet of the US ambassador, far from his native Deep South, to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who had come to Petrograd to inspect the indomitable Women's Death Battalion led by Maria Bochkareva.

Helen Rappaport draws upon this rich trove of material, much of it previously unpublished, to carry us right up to the action - to see, feel, and hear the revolution as it happened to an assortment of individuals who suddenly felt themselves trapped in a "red madhouse".

This program includes a bonus interview with the author and her editor.

©2016 Helen Rappaport (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"This centenary year of the Russian Revolution promises a string of new audio histories, but not many will surpass this one for impact. Xe Sands is a subtle and empathetic narrator." ( AudioFile)

Riveting story with fantastic narration

This book is a "page turner" even on Audible. The narration is perfect, and I can't wait to turn it back on again to get to the next chapter. The writing is fabulous, with a lot of detail and "people interest" to keep the reader engaged and bring the reality of the Revolution to life. Very well done and one of my favorite Audible books ever.

Sad Russia Americana future?

A warnning to Americans if you kick GOD out of your country He will remove His protection and all Hell will break loose. You will be the only one to blame.

You are there

By using a variety of eye witness accounts, Rappaport has given the reader a very distinct feel for the beginning of the Russian Revolution from the early days to the subsequent takeover by the Bolsheviks and the horrendous violence both at the beginning and certainly as Lenin established power. Petrograd became dismal and depressing as what started as the overthrow of the czar devolved into anarchy. No wonder it took 70 years to change. This a a very worthwhile book to read 100 years after the start of the revolution; it's like seeing a train wreck coming.

Was Bianca Amato Busy?

The book is excellent if you can get past the narrator. She sounds bored, condescending and overly precious, talks too fast and has no emotion or melody in her voice whatsoever. If the book itself weren't so riveting, I would have returned it. Please, please, Ms. Rappaport, get someone else to narrate your books!! (Like the fabulous Ms. Amato?).

Valuable Eye Witness Accounts

This book provides an understanding of the organic beginning of the 1917 Revolution and how it evolved into years of Soviet oppression. The author's compilation of eyewitness accounts provide a horrific story of terror and violence I was reminded of our own recent insurgency at the capital and how quickly misguided and often uneducated extremists can destroy governments. Another take away from the book is the evidence that the Russian people were incapable of sustaining a democracy then and sadly to this day.

Ordinary People; Chaotic Times

“Caught in the Revolution” observes the chaos and cruelty of the 1917 Russian Revolution from the perspective of Petrograd’s expatriate community, primarily Americans and Brits. The expats, mostly diplomats, journalists and bankers, are rarely the targets of street violence, and they make their way to their jobs and dinners without much harassment—although there are multiple scenes in which they flatten themselves on the street to avoid the bullets flying around them. The expats are sympathetic to their Russian friends and colleagues and increasingly distressed by the inability of the Russian leadership to save their own country from a brutal, dismal future.

The book is exceedingly well written, holding the reader’s attention with its focus on several key individuals like the British ambassador and his wife and an almost reckless American journalist and photographer. Xe Sands was a superb narrator, reading with deep empathy and clarity.

X E Sands - excellent performance

This is an excellent book, well researched, and the persons who were caught in Leningrad during this period really come alive. This is the best narration I've listened to. X E Sands has a relaxing, soothing, conversational tone. I will be looking for more books she has performed.

Great narratives, kind of annoying performance

The narratives were very illustrative and eye-opening. Great vehicle for learning about the revolution and very explanatory in between. Liked the narrator's voice, but her performance was frequently much too precious for the subject matter. Or any subject, really. It felt like I was constantly being petted and cajoled aurally. I don't know how else to describe it.

narration did not match the story

the narrator read as if this was a romance novel which detracted from the story

After the Berry Book on the Romanovs

Where does Caught in the Revolution rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

So what was it like being in the capitol of Russia in the early days of the 1917-18 revolution? Rappaport tells that story in a well researched but very readable book. I read this right after reading a novel about restoring the Romanov throne - good pair!

What other book might you compare Caught in the Revolution to and why?

Steve Berry's novel on the Romanovs