The red terror in Russia

A sweeping survey of Russia’s turbulent intellectual scene, this work blends meticulous scholarship with the author’s own experience as a scholar, journalist, and activist. Drawing on decades of research into sectarian movements, it charts how secret societies, Masonic circles, and populist groups shaped the country from the seventeenth century onward, while also revealing the personal stakes of a man caught in the whirl of revolution.

Beyond the chronicle of ideas, the narrative immerses listeners in the chaotic years of 1917‑1923, when a cooperative publishing house strove to give voice to the peasants and workers, only to be crushed by the new regime. Through vivid anecdotes about meetings, pamphlets, and heated debates, the book captures the optimism and disillusionment of those who dared to imagine a democratic alternative to class‑driven upheaval, offering a richly textured portrait of a pivotal moment in Russian history.