Lenin on the Train

"Lenin on the Train" by Catherine Merridale is a meticulously researched account of Lenin's historic rail journey in 1917, where he returned to Petrograd to ignite the Russian Revolution and change the world forever. This gripping narrative delves into the underground conspiracy and subterfuge that went into making this journey happen, as well as the wartime desperation, illicit finance, and misguided utopianism of the era. Merridale's formidable intelligence and insight brings this pivotal moment in history to life, detailing the moment when the Russian revolution became Soviet, ushering in a system of tyranny and faith that transformed the course of Russia's history and the international political climate.