Through Bolshevik Russia

In the spring of 1920 a British Labour and trade‑union delegation set out for Russia, and this account records what they saw over six weeks of travel from the Baltic ports to Moscow. The narrator moves among starving towns, bustling factories, and political meetings, offering a steady, on‑the‑ground perspective that cuts through the sensational headlines of the day. Readers get an honest portrait of everyday hardships, the hopes of ordinary workers, and the stark contradictions of a country in revolutionary turmoil.

The book weaves together observations on art, education, religion and the military, and even includes a rare interview with Lenin, all presented without heavy polemic. Short chapters such as “Ghosts,” “The Artistic Life of Russia,” and “Down the Volga” give vivid snapshots of cultural life amid scarcity. Though the narrative remains cautious, it invites listeners to form their own view of the early Soviet experiment.