Ten Days That Shook The

World
By John Reed

A Book Review

Tanayveer Singh
2011B5A4444P

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Summary of every chapter
a) Preface
b) Chapter 1 Background
c) Chapter 2 The Coming Storm
d) Chapter 3 On the Eve
e) Chapter 4 The Fall of the Provisions Government
f) Chapter 5 Plunging Ahead
g) Chapter 6 The Committee for Salvation
h) Chapter 7 The Revolutionary Front
i) Chapter 8 Counter-Revolution
j) Chapter 9 Victory
k) Chapter 10 Moscow
l) Chapter 11 The Conquest of Power
m)
Chapter 12 The Peasant's Congress
4. Writing Style
5. Conclusion
6. Sources and References

Introduction
The Russian Revolution of October 1917 was one of the most important
revolutions in modern history, playing a prominent role in both the World Wars
and the Cold War between USA and Soviet Russia.
John Reed was an American Journalist and Socialist who wrote this book as an
assignment for his newspaper, The Masses.
I chose to review this book purely out of interest in Russian Revolutionary history.
I had no idea what was in store for me when I started reading it. Suffice to say, I
found this book to be an extremely fresh and impassioned, albeit frantic, take on
one of the most important revolutions of the 20th century. It transports you to
the actual revolution. I really got a sense of being there while reading this book,
though the vast amount of detail and named did get quite confusing sometimes.
This book review is my humble attempt to give a sense of what this important
journalistic work essentially contains and talks about.

Summar y of Chapters
Preface
The Preface of this book mainly deals with Red Petrograd during the time period
of the October1 Revolution. It basically gives a brief overview of the events
leading up to the Revolution and their causes. Reed talks about the causes for the
March (N.S.) Revolution, which occurred through military corruption in the Tsarist
Russia as far back as 1915, and reactionaries' wish of a separate peace with
Germany. After the March Revolution, which resulted in the abdication of Tsar
Nicholas II and formation of a Provisional Government, problems started arising
between the Propertied and Proletariat2 classes. This resulted in clashes
between the Government, supported by the Bourgeoisie and the working class.
Ultimately, Bolsheviks managed to overthrow the Government and create Soviet 3
Russia.
In this, Reed also provides a comprehensive list of important Russian political
parties and organisations, along with parliamentary procedures. Very helpful.
1

Chapter 1 Background
The book starts near September 1917. As quoted by the official organ of
moderate Socialists on Oct 14th in the book, ...The drama of Revolution has two
acts: the destruction of the old regime and the creation of a new one. The first act
1
2
3

Or November, according to the New Style (N. S.) Gregorian Calender, which most people follow nowadays, as contrasted
with the Old Style (O.S.) Julian Calender. Unless explicitly mentioned, all dates are N.S. from here on.
Proletariat basically refers to the working classes and the word comes from Latin Proletarius meaning someone who
only produces offspring (proles) to serve the state and, as such, has no wealth or property.
"Soviet" comes from Russian sovet, meaning "council", an ELECTED group of people responsible for affairs of city,
district or, in this case, the whole country.

has lasted long enough...., there was a general feeling among the Mensheviks
and the Socialist Revolutionaries that it was time for the Second Act to begin,
whereas among the workers, peasants and soldiers, there was a diametrically
opposite feeling.
The working class had the following 3 Basic demands: Peace, Land and
Workers' Control of Industr y. When their demands weren't met, soldiers
started deserting, peasants burnt down manor houses and took over estates, and
workers sabotaged their work-related goods and machines. The Provisional
Government altered between ineffective reforms and stern repressive measures,
which caused many people to join over with Bolsheviks. During this time,
Bolsheviks gained importance among the public and within the chaos of the
Provisional Government, their slogan of All power to the soviets! became the
only clear light. During this there also emerged an atmosphere of wanting to
Read and Know about politics, economics and history among the general
public.

Chapter 2 The Coming Storm

This chapter begins with an account of Kornilov's failed coup after the 1905
revolution, which ultimately made everyone wary of another such coup. In
response, Tsay-ee-kah, the Central Executive Committee of Workers and Soldiers,
called for a democratic conference in September. This conference led to the
formation of 3 factions within the Tsay-ee-kah:
1. Bolsheviks [demanding All-Russian Congress of Soviets for power]
2. Center (Tchernov) and Left (Kamkov and Spiridonova) Social Revolutionaries
and Menshevik international (Martov) and Center Menshevik (Bogdanov and
Skobeliev) [demanding purely socialist government]
3. "Right" Social rev (Tseretelli, Dan, Liebert) and Menshevik (Avksentiev and
Gotz) [demanding representation for propertied classes in government]
Bolsheviks won an immediate majority, which became a cause of concern for the
Tsay-ee-kah (which was already against Bolsheviks) leading to their exclusion from
the Government. Bolsheviks responded by summoning All-Russian Soviets to meet
on Nov 2 and take over Russian Government, calling it "Government of Treason to
People".
When the issue of Foreign Policy came up, everyone was rooting for earliest
possible peace. The Bolsheviks were very keen on it and were rooting with the
people but the Provisional Government rejected their proposals, causing largescale desertions in Army. Government tried placating them, but didn't win much
support as they mostly supported the propertied classes. Bolsheviks started
gaining the upper hand. Meanwhile, Russia was descending into chaos. The
Government began to fear an insurrection.
And in the rain, the bitter chill, the great throbbing city under grey skies rushing
faster and faster toward-what?

Chapter 3 On the Eve

This chapter begins by talking about the exasperation and anger that the people
felt with the Government, citing various incidents, like the proposal to abandon
Petrograd, the bombing of Soviet headquarters by the Cossacks, etc. It was Chaos
everywhere. Processions, demonstrations and meetings between various parties,
groups and committees were being held everywhere. Government started
breaking down.
The success of an insurrection depended upon the Petrograd garrison, an army of
60,000 men, which had played a prominent role in the March Revolution. The
Central Committee of Petrograd Soviet sanctioned the formation of Military
Revolutionary Committee (to look into the government's plan to replace the
garrison with dependable troops), which was saluted by the Petrograd garrison.
An atmosphere of expectation and nervousness was present, described in great
detail by Reed, on the night of 5th of November.
Bolsheviks dominated in the Petrograd meeting in Smolny on 6th.

Chapter 4 The Fall of the Provisional Government

This chapter is almost completely a first-person narrative. Over here, Reed talks
about the events of 7th November, as witnessed by himself. Municipal Duma had
formed a Committee of Public Safety, which basically served as a declaration of
war against the Bolsheviks. In response, the Bolsheviks captured many
government institutions. They were ready to storm the Winter Palace. The
Winter Palace, meanwhile, had been converted into temporary barracks.
Apparently, the Bolsheviks had already succeeded in their insurrection, with
Trotsky declaring, in the name of the Military Revolutionary Committee, that the
Provisional Government no longer existed. Incidentally, the meeting in the Great
Hall regarding that decision was conducted under fire from protesters.
At night, a small group of Red Guards invaded the Winter Palace and, without a
single shot being fired, Winter Palace was captured. Not a single hold-up or
robbery occurred. Meanwhile, in the City Duma, Committee of Public Safety was
being expanded to include all non-Bolshevik elements under a new name, the
Committee for Salvation of Country and Revolution.
Back in Smolny, the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and
Soldiers' Deputies was formed, representing the majority of Soviets, and
proposing immediate democratic peace on all fronts, among other things.

Chapter 5 Plunging Ahead

November 8th. The All-Russian Congress of Soviets started establishing itself.
Capital Punishment in Army was abolished , committees freed, theft and were
forbidden under threat of death. A battle of protests started between the other
side and Bolsheviks. Over here, Reed showcases the contrast between the people
belonging to Bolsheviks (low-class shabby grimy workers, peasants) and those of
Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries(intellectuals, well-fed, well-dressed).
Meanwhile, the newly established government started taking decisions regarding

Peace, foremost, and then power to the People. These Amendments proposed by
Lenin were accepted almost unanimously by the various factions of the Soviet
Congress. Land Decree was passed, Council of People's Commissars formed, with
Lenin as President. With the dissolution of All-Russian Congress of Soviets, the
New Parliament was formed, within 15 minutes.

Chapter 6 The Committee for Salvation

November 9th. This chapter mainly looks at the progress of the revolution
through the eyes of Committee of Salvation. Russia was basically divided into 2
sections, the proletarian Soviets in majority and the officers and propertied
middle class. The insurrection by the Petrograd Revolution was spreading all
across Provincial Russia. During this time, the Committee for Salvation started
asserting itself properly against the Council of People's Commissars. Their general
sentiment was against the Bolsheviks. In their meetings, they were spreading
rumours of torture by Bolsheviks to win support of the public. Reed details in this
chapter how one of those rumours was proved wrong.

Chapter 7 The Revolutionary Front

November 10th. The Military Revolutionary Committee had established a strict
order against theft, brigandage, assaults and massacre attempts. The various
peasants' and soldiers' deputies were distancing themselves from the Bolsheviks.
A lot of rumours were being spread. But despite all that, the Bolsheviks were
doing quite well. More decrees were being put out by Lenin, various trade unions
were offering their support to them.
Even then, there was an undercurrent of fear among the people regarding an
attack by Kerensky's Cossacks. Preparations were being done to counter such an
attack everywhere. Orders were given to the various deputies and committees to
prepare for war. The Cossacks had advanced till Tsarskoye Selo.
Meanwhile, in the Alexander Hall of the Duma building, the Committee for
Salvation was in a special session which was planning a proper counter-revolution.

Chapter 8 Counter-Revolution
November 11th. Two things happened on that morning. First, the Cossacks
attacked the Guard of Tsarskoye Selo and the Committee for Salvation started
recapturing the various buildings that the Bolsheviks had initially captured.
Skirmishes were occurring regularly between the Red Guards and the yunkers
(junior officers). When on of the yunkers shot down 2 Soviet delegates under the
peace flag, the actual bombardment began. By afternoon, the yunkers had
surrendered. After that incident, the Bolsheviks started reclaiming all the
captured buildings one by one. Finally, the telephone lines connecting to Smolny
began to work.
The counter-revolution was being put down.
Talks for a new coalition government were started. No side wad ready to accept

the other's terms.

While all of this was going on in the meeting halls, a news report came that the
revolutionary army had repulsed Kerensky.
The final anecdote in the chapter gives an example of how even the Vikzhel
(railway union) ended up giving support to the Bolsheviks by agreeing to transport
them to Moscow.

Chapter 9 Victory
November 13th. Tsarskoye Selo was recaptured with the defeat of Kerensky. This
chapter begins with official reports and witnesses' description of the battle with
Kerensky on 12th November.
Civil war was spreading across entire Russia, ...from Volgda to Chita in far Siberia,
Pskov to Sevastopol on the Black Sea.... Now, Kerensky was looking for an
armistice.
The 2 main issues that remained was a truce to bloodshed and the formation of a
new government. Over here, Reed narrates his visit to the Front and how he
almost got killed because of a new pass which the Guards didn't believe in, as they
couldn't read.
Ultimately, the Cossacks surrendered towards nightfall. Kerensky had fled.
Petrograd finally belonged to the masses.

Chapter 10 Moscow
November 14th. The victory was followed up with arrest orders for Kerensky and
a decision to put him before a tribunal of the people.
Only the Kremlin remained as the last stronghold of the bourgeoisie. Finally, on
November 15th, after extensive bombing, the White Guards (consisting mainly of
Cossacks and peasants) and yunkers finally surrendered. The Committee of
Salvation ceased to exist.
Here, Reed talks about his journey to Moscow, giving an idea of how the victory of
the revolution had changed the mood and perception of people from Petrograd
to Kremlin. The Moscow battle had been quite bloody, compared to the Petrograd
battle, as, over there, the City Duma had take control of the yunkers and the White
Guard. After the battle, the Duma was dissolved and a resolution passed to
support the actions of Council of People's Commissars.
Then Reed talks about the Funeral Procession that took place, despite the
absence of priests and members of the Holy Orthodox Church, to honour and
bury the martyrs of the revolution, in Kremlin.
I suddenly realised that the devout Russian people no longer needed priests
to pray them into heaven. On earth they were building a kingdom more
bright than any heaven had to offer, and for which it was a glory to die ..

Chapter 11 The Conquest of Power

This chapter begins with a Declaration of Rights of the People of Russia signed

by Lenin, and goes on to talk about the problems that were faced by Bolsheviks in
assuming control in Government offices, as the people who worked there were
anti-bolshevik. Those people had either refused to work or sabotaged whatever
work that was being done. Opposition newspapers had heavily criticised the
impotence of the new government.
But after the defeat of Kerensky and the success of Soviets everywhere else, the
situation changed. The Bolsheviks formed a government through the power of
their majority, with one of the major issues that was decided in such a manner
being the banning of bourgeoisie press.
Now they had power too.
Then they went on to discuss problems of administration, food and fuel being the
most urgent. Wine-pogroms (looting of liquor) was also dealt with in a ruthless
nut effective manner. When the Council of People's Commissars got news about
the hungry and miserable conditions of Staff of the Northern Front, they issued a
warning to all counter-revolutionary functionaries to stop interfering with the
government as it would cost the life of thousands of soldiers, which lead to
savage rage by masses all across Russia. On 23rd a formal decree of the Military
Revolutionary Committee dissolved the Committee for Salvation and on 29th, the
Council of People's Commissars ordered the dissolution and reelection of the
Petrograd City Duma . Even the Kaledin Movement (of the Cossacks) and
Dukhonin's Staff at Moghilev faded away.
The Government's basis for power was through appealing to the masses.
The only reason for Bolshevik success lay in their accomplishing the vast and simple
desires of the most profound strata of the people, calling them to the work of tearing
down and destroying the old, and afterward, in the smoke of falling ruins,
cooperating with them to erect the framework of the new...

Chapter 12 The Peasant's Congress

In this, Reed talks about how the New Government catered to the requirements
of the peasants, first, by calling a Congress of Peasants and then explaining, in
simple terms, what the Revolution meant for them and how it was necessary for
Workers' Social Revolution to triumph for their own to be accepted. Again,
achieved through direct appeal to the peasants by Lenin. Reed quotes extensive
sections of Lenin's speeches, demonstrating his prowess in rhetoric.
Many discussions followed between the Bolsheviks and the Peasant's Congress
(comprising mainly of Left Social Revolutionaries), without fruition. Finally, an
agreement was reached between Smolny and Peasant's Congress. A huge
procession was conducted throughout the city.
The Revolution was complete.

On Writing Style
(note: the page numbers referenced here are of the PDF version of the Project Gutenberg edition of this
book)

First of all, this is essentially a journalistic piece of work, and is meant to be seen in
such a manner. That said, there are a few things that I would like to comment
upon regarding his prose:
Reed writes in a frantic and impassioned manner. The prose is very simple, but
incredibly detailed. Reed reports everything in plain and clear terms.
Reed has a flair for very vivid imagery that actually transports you to the place
where the events are taking place. For example, in chapter 4, the entire chapter is
a descriptive first-person narrative which gives a vivid account of the Storming of
Winter Palace. Then there are occasional sections within all the facts that stand
out almost like poetry, e.g. on pg 37, last line, and pg 38, he goes into a lot of
detail describing the environment and the dull, bleak atmosphere during
September and October 1917 to give a sense of despair relating to the Provisional
Government during that time.
Reed gives a lot of sources and facts to support his statements. (e.g. on Pg 31, he
gives a list of "services" rendered by the "moderate" socialists, which is referenced
from an article in an October issue of Rabotchi Put (Workers' Way).) He also gives
important background information about relevant topics, so nothing appears
incomplete, e.g., on Pg 18, in the notes and explanations sections of the Preface,
gives a brief introduction to all the relevant political parties, organisations,
committees etc. Very detailed, but not needlessly so. Whenever he makes an
important factual statement, he always gives the references and explanation in
the appendix.
He also makes use of a lot of juxtapositions to bring out contrast, e.g. on Pg 37 he
contrasts Middle ages and 20th century, proletariat and middle class bourgeoisie.
On the next 2 pages, he goes on to contrast the lifestyle of the worker class and
the "middle" class through juxtaposition.
He also uses rare but effective illustrative metaphors. (eg. Beginning of ch2, pg
52, pg 92 Trotsky, pg112 hammer section)

Conclusion
Generally, I do not read such books, but I sure do not regret reading this one. This
extraordinary piece of refreshing journalism is meant to be admired and
remembered. I do agree that it does get quite confusing in between, but, overall,
this is an important historically significant text that, almost quite, places you right
in the heart of the Russian Revolution of 1917, those 10 days that really did shake
the world.

Sources and References

Book: Project Gutenberg's Ten Days That Shook the World, by John Reed, edition
10
Sources: en.wikipedia.org (for various terminologies and definitions)