Romancing the Revolution

How often does one consider the true meaning of hte term"Soviet"?

This revealing history examines the impact of the myth of Soviet democracy: the belief that Russia was embarking on a brave experiment in a form of popular government more genuine and advanced than even the best forms of parliamentarism.Over two decades have passed since the collapse of the USSR, yet thewords "Soviet Union" still carry significant weight in thecollective memory of millions. But how often do we consider the truemeaning of the term "Soviet"? Drawing extensively onleft-wing press archives, Romancing the Revolution traces the reactionsof the British Left to the idealized concept of Soviet democracy.Focusing on the turbulent period after the 1917 Russian Revolution,author Ian Bullock examines the impact of the myth of Soviet democracy:the belief that Russia was embarking on a brave experiment in a form ofpopular government more genuine and advanced than even the best formsof parliamentarism. Romancing the Revolution uncovers theimprint of this myth on left-wing organizations and their publications.