Overview

In 1912, a thin line of Russian soldiers, confronted by a large crowd of gold miners on strike for several weeks, reacted with fear and anger. At their officers' orders, they opened fire, shooting five hundred unarmed protesters. The event reverberated across Russia. The Lena goldfields massacre can be viewed from several distinct viewpoints, each presenting a contrasting story. Author Michael Melancon avoids prematurely picking a """"right"""" way of looking at the massacre. Instead, he explores all aspects of the incident, from the despair of the miners at the poor conditions they faced, to the calculations and priorities of the mining entrepreneurs and state officials, and even the rationale of the soldiers who pulled the triggers. """"The Lena Goldfields Massacre and the Crisis of the Late Tsarist State"""" will appeal to anyone interested in labor relations, in revolutionary movements, and in transitions associated with modernization. Its comparative framework will be helpful for generalists and Europeanists. It will also provide food for thought for those interested in Russian society during the early twentieth century.

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9781585445080

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The author has done an exemplary job. There is no other book in English that covers the subject, and none in any language does so as well as it does. Anatomy of a Massacre is important, well-researched, well written, and has a greater than average chance of making an impact on the field (this latter I consider high praise, not faint praise). --Rex A. Wade, George Mason University -- Rex A. Wade, George Mason University

""The author has done an exemplary job. There is no other book in English that covers the subject, and none in any language does so as well as it does. Anatomy of a Massacre is important, well-researched, well written, and has a greater than average chance of making an impact on the field (this latter I consider high praise, not faint praise).""--Rex A. Wade, George Mason University

Author Information

MICHAEL MELANCON, who received his Ph.D. from Indiana University, is a professor of history at Auburn University.

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