Russia in the Shadows
Encyclopedia
Russia in the Shadows is the title of the book published in 1920, which includes a series of articles written by H. G. Wells
for The Sunday Express in connection with his second visit to Russia
that same year. Wells was already famous for his celebrated The War of the Worlds
and The Time Machine
. During his visit to Russia he met his friend Maxim Gorky
who arranged a meeting with Lenin. Wells’s vision of the young socialist republic wasn’t as candid as John Reed
’s. Wells saw a country devastated by the war, blockade and foreign intervention; a country lost in the hands of the only force sufficiently organized to control the affairs of the nation: the Bolsheviks. Wells’s account of his sojourn in St. Petersburg and Moscow
is crude, spares no details and pretends to capture not the imagination of the idealist but rather to provide the readers of The Sunday Express with an account, warning-–at the same time--Western nations of what dangers lay ahead should they not intervene to safeguard the integrity of Russia
. During the interview with Lenin at the Kremlin
(second to last chapter contains), Wells engages the leader and founder of Russia
n communism
in a conversation about the future of what would become the Soviet Union.
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
for The Sunday Express in connection with his second visit to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
that same year. Wells was already famous for his celebrated The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
and The Time Machine
The Time Machine
The Time Machine is a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells, published in 1895 for the first time and later adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It indirectly inspired many more works of fiction...
. During his visit to Russia he met his friend Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
who arranged a meeting with Lenin. Wells’s vision of the young socialist republic wasn’t as candid as John Reed
John Reed
-Arts, letters, and entertainment:* John Reed , New York novelist and author* John Reed , actor and singer with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company* John Reed , Australian critic and art patron...
’s. Wells saw a country devastated by the war, blockade and foreign intervention; a country lost in the hands of the only force sufficiently organized to control the affairs of the nation: the Bolsheviks. Wells’s account of his sojourn in St. Petersburg and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
is crude, spares no details and pretends to capture not the imagination of the idealist but rather to provide the readers of The Sunday Express with an account, warning-–at the same time--Western nations of what dangers lay ahead should they not intervene to safeguard the integrity of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. During the interview with Lenin at the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
(second to last chapter contains), Wells engages the leader and founder of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in a conversation about the future of what would become the Soviet Union.