The Red Flag

A History of Communism

By: David Priestland

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 28 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Communism was one of the most powerful political and intellectual movements the world has ever seen. At the height of their influence, Communists controlled more than a third of the Earth's surface. But perhaps more astonishing than its rapid rise and extraordinary reach was Communism's sudden, devastating collapse in November of 1989.

In The Red Flag, Oxford professor David Priestland tells the epic story of a movement that has taken root in dozens of countries across 200 years, from its birth after the French Revolution to its ideological maturity in 19th-century Germany to its rise to dominance (and subsequent fall) in the 20th century.

Beginning with the first modern Communists in the age of Robespierre, Priestland examines the motives of thinkers and leaders including Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Castro, Che Guevara, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Gorbachev, and many others. He also asks what it was about Communism that inspired its rank and file - whether the militants of 1920s Russia, the guerrilla fighters of China, or the students of Ethiopia - and explores the experience of what it meant to live under Communism for its millions of subjects. He shows how Communism, in all its varieties, appealed to different societies for different reasons, in some as a response to inequalities and in others more out of a desire to catch up with the West. But paradoxically, while destroying one web of inequality, Communist leaders were simultaneously weaving another. It was this dynamic, together with widespread economic failure and an escalating loss of faith in the system, that ultimately destroyed Soviet Communism itself.

At a time when global capitalism is in crisis and powerful new political forces have arisen to confront Western democracy, The Red Flag is essential listening if we are to apply the lessons of the past to navigating the future.

Cover photo of Che Guevara copyright 2015 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.

©2009 David Priestland. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Epic on communism in the world.

If you want to understand why the world looks like it is, lusten to this book.

Solid but left leaning history

Solid history by a clearly left wing socialist who asks silly questions like "should we try to understand Stalin" in the context of acknowledging Stalin's "good intention". Whilst failing to maintain a neutral view of the story of Communism the author does a good job of providing a sweeping historical overview of Communism. He fails utterly in explaining the horrors of Pol Pot and Stalin and comes very close to excusing them.

Outstanding

A great overview of communism. I think right side won but much to think about. Challenged many of my assumptions. Easy to ingest but still substantial. Great.

educational but boring.

narrator sounded like an AI but info was great. I learned a lot during many long hours

An excellent overview of historic communism

The book is written with deep insight into the perspective of many Communist leaders from the French Revolution to the late 2000's. It is a honest portrayal of their dreams and goals, but also of the seemingly inevitable failure of their various attempts to achieve them.
I found that it opened my eyes to many aspects of history that had previously been either unknown to me or disconnected, and it laid an excellent foundation for understanding today's world and it's many areas of conflict. Paradoxically, it also increased my empathy for those whose political ends and means differ sharply from my own, while at the same time strengthened my desire to distill their errors and communicate them to those willing to view consequences from the perspective of historical reality.

The story of the Great boogeyman of Capitalism

we have all heard the Great economic battle of the Late 20th century: Capitalism vs Communism, but what is offered here is the story of that war through the eyes of the "evil" side. a great listen to show just how fragile peace was in a time of what could amount to an apocalyptic staredown, the Red Flag is a must for any person who is interested in the timeframe as well as the politics of the era.

Soviettes?

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Boehmer’s performances?

Ugh. I'm sure they're wonderful, but I can't get past his pronunciation of "Soviet" in this book. Right or wrong, his pronunciation sounds more like "Soviette", and I'm often distracted by strange visions of Marx, Lenin, Stalin, et al in a long kick line. It made it difficult to get through the book, as the Soviets tend to have a large part in it...

Another robotic, anxious narrator

Excellent book rendered unlistenable by a dreadful narrator. Most grating is his habit of pausing in trepidation before each non-English word, which is then pronounced in an odd, stilted accent, whatever the language.

Enjoyable

Very interesting topic to me. Author presented events not favoring any side. I like the narrator too.

Time well spent for history buffs

Provides a wide and deep perspective on world events in the last century. The reader is EXTRAORDINARY in his pronunciation of names and places in many languages. Not the most exciting book, but fills in a lot of detail on a subject that is oversimplified in every other place we encounter it.