Three Revolutions - by Simon Hall

Book Synopsis

From the streets of Petrograd during the heady autumn of 1917, to Mao's stunning victory in October 1949, and Fidel's triumphant arrival in Havana, in January 1959, the history of the twentieth century was transformed in dramatic and profound ways by the Russian, Chinese and Cuban revolutions.

In Three Revolutions, the stories of these epoch-defining events are told together for the first time. At the heart of each revolution was an epic journey: Lenin's 1917 return to Russia from exile in Switzerland; Mao's 'Long March' of 1934-35, covering some 6,000 miles across China; and Fidel Castro's return to Cuba in 1956 following his exile in Mexico. Told in tandem with these are the corresponding journeys of three extraordinary journalists - John Reed, Edgar Snow and Herbert L. Matthews - whose electric testimony from the frontlines would make a decisive contribution to how these revolutions were understood in the wider world.

Here, in Simon Hall's masterful retelling, these six remarkable journeys are brought vividly to life. Featuring a stellar cast, extraordinary drama and an epic sweep, Three Revolutions raises fundamental questions about the nature of political power, the limits of idealism and the role of the journalist - questions that remain of utmost urgency today.

Review Quotes

"Colourful and enjoyably written...An entertaining series of journeys through the events leading to three revolutions that really did have a profound impact on the world. Hall proves a well-informed and eloquent guide for the trip." - Peter Conradi, Sunday Times

"Like a Hollywood epic, the book pays close attention to characters, scene-setting and pacing. But beyond telling an engaging story of political odysseys, the book argues that the cause of revolution and the nature of reporting evolved in tandem across the twentieth century...Hall uses the intimate perspective of his protagonists to illuminate a sweeping history." - Maurice J. Casey, Times Literary Supplement

"Lively, insightful...Full of colourful human details." - Andrew Lynch, Irish Times

"A captivating account of three revolutionaries and the intrepid journalists who brought their stories to the world." - Kirkus Reviews

"Written with a magisterial sweep yet intimate in detail, Simon Hall's Three Revolutions recreates the history of these political dramas through the personal experiences of the revolutionaries who led the overthrow of old political regimes and the reporters who were witness to the rise of new orders. Rooted in deep research and told with narrative verve, the book gives a powerful sense of immediacy to the events of the past." - Clive Webb