Dear Comrades

This presentation of previously unpublished documents from the Hoover Institution Library & Archives draws a dramatic picture of the Russian Civil War and the establishment of the Communist dictatorship as witnessed by members of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party, or Mensheviks. When the opposing Bolsheviks consolidated their power to emerge as the ruling party of the 1917 revolution, the political influence of the Mensheviks was swept away, and most were driven to exile in Siberia. The historic power struggle that raged as the two parties vied for supremacy in postimperial Russia comes to light through these accounts—not official party statements but vivid reports, letters, and eyewitness testimonies by Mensheviks, ordinary citizens from diverse walks of life and different parts of the Soviet Union. Together, these materials create a mosaic of individual portraits and circumstances that illustrate the conflicts, struggles, and repression during the period of Soviet politics under Lenin. The primary source documents, skillfully edited and translated by Vladimir N. Brovkin, show the formation of a new mentality among Communist rulers and a new relationship to the workers, one that replaced multiparty competition with unquestioning obedience, military discipline, and intolerance.

Almost two decades have passed since the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Robert Service, one of our finest historians of modern Russia, sets out to examine the history of communism throughout the world. His uncomfortable conclusion - and an important message for the twenty-first century – is that although communism in its original form is now dead or dying, the poverty and injustice that enabled its rise are still dangerously alive. Unsettling, compellingly written and brilliantly argued, this is a superb work of history and one that demands to be read. ‘Bears all the hallmarks of a classic work of historical literature ... the true international legacy of communism [is] analysed to magisterial effect in this exhilarating work’ Hwyel Williams New Statesman ‘One of the best-ever studies of the subject ... a remarkable accomplishment’ Economist ‘An outstanding book, written with grace and style’ Daily Telegraph ‘[A] brilliantly distilled world history of communism ... Confronted by Service's amazing array of evidence to show that communism could only ever have flourished under conditions of extreme and all-pervasive oppression, only the determinedly softheaded would try to argue with him’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday

Expelled from the Communist Party, some of the Lovestone group’s 'American Exceptionalists' became influential in labor and civil rights movements, others icons of Cold War anti-Communism. Yet their writings of 1929-1940 provide remarkable insights on twentieth century realities and radicalism.

Life Has Become More Joyous, Comrades Celebrations in the Time of Stalin Karen Petrone A lively investigation of the official and unofficial meanings of Stalinist celebrations. "An impressive and highly readable book that... casts a clear and disturbing light on the relationship of Stalinist mythology, state power, popular participation, and the unending complexities of social and cultural survival mechanisms and daily life." --Richard Stites In the Soviet Union in the 1930s, public celebrations flourished while Stalinist repression intensified. What explains this coincidence of terror and celebration? Using popular media and drawing extensively on documents from previously inaccessible Soviet archives, Karen Petrone demonstrates that to dismiss Soviet celebrations as mere diversion is to lose a valuable opportunity for understanding how the Soviet system operated. As the state attempted to mobilize citizens to participate in the project to create New Soviet men and women, celebration culture became more than a means to distract a population suffering from poverty and deprivation. The planning and execution of celebrations reflected the Soviet intelligentsia's efforts to bring social and cultural enlightenment to the people. Physical culture demonstrations, celebrations of Arctic and aviation exploits, the Pushkin Centennial of 1937 and the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, and the celebration of New Year's Day were opportunities for the Soviet leadership to fuse traditional prerevolutionary values and practices with socialist ideology in an effort to educate its citizens and build support for the state and its policies. However, official celebrations were often appropriated by citizens for purposes that were unanticipated and unsanctioned by the state. Through celebrations, Soviet citizens created hybrid identities and defined their places in the emerging Stalinist hierarchy, allowing them to uphold the Soviet order while arrests and executions were rampant. This rich look at celebrations reveals the complex dialogues and negotiations between citizens and leaders in the endeavor to create Soviet culture. Karen Petrone is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Kentucky. Indiana-Michigan Series in Russian and East European Studies--Alexander Rabinowitch and William G. Rosenberg, editors Contents Interpreting Soviet Celebrations Part 1: Soviet Popular Culture and Mass Mobilization Parading the Nation: Demonstrations and the Construction of Soviet Identities Imagining the Motherland: The Celebration of Soviet Aviation and Polar Exploits Fir Trees and Carnivals: The Celebration of Soviet New Year's Day Part 2: The Intelligentsia and Soviet Enlightenment A Double-edged Discourse on Freedom: The Pushkin Centennial of 1937 Anniversary of Turmoil: The Twentieth Anniversary of the October Revolution Celebrating Civic Participation: The Stalin Constitution and Elections as Rituals of Democracy Celebrations and Power

Deploring the gross materialism of the modern men, who have been ruining natural resources ruthlessly the poet implores earnestly to save the same for the generations to come to rid of their curse and to earn their bliss. Young poet Mr. Ajit's adoration of human values and virtues, issuance of clarion call and earnest appeal to the present day youth to develop rational and scientific approach to the festivities speaks volumes about his love of humanity. Celebration of mother's affection, feeling of pride for motherland, appreciation of the beauty and greatness of Mother Earth are the stock- in trade of his poetic utterances. Good manners are good basis of good life goes an adage. It is good manners and etiquettes that bring dignity to humans who are the dazzling jewels in the crown of God’s creation. Hence the poet holds high several mannerisms in host of his poems. His fervent wish and ardent hope to usher in better and beautiful prospective world are the flora and fauna of this poetic creations. Let this budding, sensitive, sensible poet scale a lofty literary height and succeed in his endeavor to convey his tender passions genuinely through poetry to increase the happiness of readers.