The memoir chronicles the author's experiences during the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. It begins with their initial enthusiasm for the revolution and their involvement with the Bolsheviks. However, they soon become disillusioned with the regime's authoritarianism and violence, particularly after the Kronstadt rebellion is brutally suppressed. The author's criticism of the Soviet government grows as they witness the erosion of civil liberties and the rise of a new bureaucracy. They eventually flee Russia, feeling betrayed by the revolution's failure to achieve its ideals.
By Emma Goldman · First published 1923 · Genre: Memoir, Political Commentary, Historical Non-Fiction · 21 chapters