The Bolshevik Myth · Chapter
In the Far North explained
The narrator travels to Yaroslavl, Vologda, and Archangel in December 1920, observing the devastation from the 1918 counterrevolutionary uprising and the lingering terror among the populace.
What happens
The narrator travels to Yaroslavl, Vologda, and Archangel in December 1920, observing the devastation from the 1918 counterrevolutionary uprising and the lingering terror among the populace. In Archangel, they find relative order and efficiency, attributed to the influence of the American Mission and the cooperative policies of local Communist officials like Kulakov. The chapter highlights the pragmatic governance of the Northern workers, the story of Betchin, and the abandonment of the planned trip to Murmansk due to severe snowstorms.
Themes in this chapter
Human Suffering and Dehumanization
The devastation of Yaroslavl, the cowed and terrified populace, and the destruction of supplies while people starved illustrate profound human suffering.
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
Tchaikovsky, once a revered revolutionary figure, is portrayed as a vassal of Kolchak, betraying his revolutionary past.
Economic Collapse and Survival
Scarcity of provisions, near-deserted marketplaces, and reliance on leftover American canned goods highlight the economic collapse and struggle for survival.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Travels through Yaroslavl, Vologda, and Archangel, observing conditions and interviewing local officials and workers.
- Kulakov
Chairman of the Ispelkom in Archangel; young, intelligent, and humane despite the Whites killing his family; facilitates the narrator's research.
- Tchaikovsky
Former 'grandfather of the Russian Revolution' who served as vassal of Kolchak; his regime is contemptuously referred to as the 'Government of Miller.'
- Betchin
Chairman of the Union Soviet in Archangel; a typical Northern worker, indicted for treason and sentenced to Iokange prison; donates his picture and the old crimson banner of the Soviet.
Key passages
“The shadow of that tragedy broods darkly over Yaroslavl. The hand laid upon the rebels was so heavy, its imprint is still felt. The people are cowed, terrified at the very mention of the ghastly days of June.”
The memory of the 1918 counterrevolutionary uprising and its brutal suppression continues to haunt Yaroslavl, leaving the population fearful and intimidated.
Describes the lasting psychological impact of the violent crackdown on the city's inhabitants.
“We have learned from the Occupation,” Kulakov, Chairman of the Ispelkom, comments. He is a young man, tall, clean featured, and of quick intelligence. The Whites killed his entire family, including his young sister, but Kulakov has preserved his mental balance and humanity.”
Kulakov, a young and intelligent Communist official, acknowledges that the city learned efficiency from the foreign occupation; despite the Whites murdering his whole family, he remains balanced and humane.
Highlights Kulakov's personal tragedy and his pragmatic, cooperative approach to governance.
“The story is told of the destruction of huge supplies, sunk in the Dvina in the very sight of the starved population, by order of General Rollins, who was in charge of the British evacuation.”
According to local accounts, General Rollins ordered the destruction of large food supplies by sinking them in the Dvina River, while the starving population watched helplessly.
Illustrates the resentment toward the British for their perceived callousness during the evacuation.
““We are working in harmony with the several factions in the unions,” Betchin said. “The welfare of the people is our sole aim, and on that platform we can all agree, whatever our political predilections.””
Betchin explains that the unions cooperate across factions because their primary goal is the people's welfare, transcending political differences.
Reflects the pragmatic unity among workers in Archangel, focused on practical outcomes rather than ideology.
