Gulag: A History

Applebaum's work is a broad overview of the Gulag system and the politics that drove it. Considering the immensity, the author has done well in style, technique and substance to pull back the veil on a system of human aberrance so huge that it has no peers in recent history. But it is difficult to review this book fairly due to it's content. For those knowing names and having photos of individuals lost to this maw of human depravity there can be no enjoyment here. For them, this is a terrible, terrible book confirming the worst whispers and imaginings of what `being sent to Siberia' was really like. A ghastly book exposing the worst kinds of assault on human dignity even beyond the mass slaughters of the Katina woods or Hitler's ovens. It's victims were tortured, starved, dehumanized in the most perverse ways imaginable to not only eliminate them as hurdles to central planning but intentionally squeeze from them their last drops of blood. Many luckily died much before, but that does not change intent. The only redeeming value in Applebaum's book is the exposure to drive assurance that such inhumanity never plagues our species again. But of course, it is ongoing in other hell holes at this very time. Such being the secret inner working of totalitarians who by necessity must find venues of disposal of it's human waste. Waste being opponents, whether individuals, tribes, or whole countries that do not fit utopia's mold. Or, as Applebaum reveals, merely foils to divert attention from the systemic and abject conditions visited on the working class by it's overlord central planners. I read this book not for entertainment but to better understand what happened to those left in Eastern Europe after the Nazism took it's first cut. One person looking back to discover the desecration of his family tree and his ethnic inheritance. But imagine the disappointment to discover that "Gulags" were too good for any other than Russia's own 30 million. Eastern Europeans, as it turns out, were cast into even lower levels of hells reserved especially for them in elsewhere's unknown. It is absolutely mind boggling to multiply my familial losses, illness to the escapees and even after-affects to progeny, by 30 million. But apparently those numbers do not suffice. For even now the public record is incomplete as to other administrative compartments, categories and hells that might have been, or are still ongoing, to serve as gear-works for the machines of totalitarianism. It is a commendable book that serves it's topic well. If you are compelled to read and discover, do so. But I cannot imagine anyone having any morsel of compassion or empathy for the human soul enjoying the reading of these words.

This is a well written and fascinating book that provides startling and comprehensive perspectives into the Soviet Union's Gulag system, primarily under Stalin but continuing after his death. It is well researched and provides excellent reporting on how the camps functioned, how they were administered, variations on how different types of prisoners were treated in different camps and within any given camp. Applebaum explains the combination of economic, "re-education" and punitive objectives supporting the existence of the camps. The selection of prisoners included those regarded as class enemies, those who might become class enemies, a number chosen randomly and prisoners who had committed non political crimes such as murder, rape, etc. The quality of treatment of any given prisoner or category of prisoner relied primarily on their usefulness to meeting sometimes conflicting objectives of Soviet leaders. If prisoners failed to meet the production norms, established by the Communist leaders, they starved to death. One exception seemed to be the actual criminals who seemed to have lived better than the political prisoners who who were not always subject to production quotas. Compassion and decency was clearly in short supply as the system brutalized almost everyone involved in it, including the prisoners who learned that survival was not consistent with caring for others. It was a Darwinian existence that usually destroyed the qualities of decency employed in civilized society. Applebaum does an an excellent job of trying to tell the story of the Gulags from viewpoints of the prisoners, the families affected but also those running the camps and those making and implementing policies that governed the Gulags. The book reports extensively reports on how prisoners attempted to cope with their condition including temperatures of minus 50 degrees fahrenheit, extreme hunger, and indifference to whether they lived or died. One is overwhelmed by the sense of dehumanization imposed on prisoners, their families, including children but also on many of those running the camps. Guards could become prisoners and prisoners could sometimes become guards. For those interested in the history of the Gulags, this is an outstanding book.

Muy bueno, no decepciona nada de nada, si quieres documentarte sobre las promesas y felicidad que vende el comunismo pero la dura realidad que esconde. Debería leerlo todos los pelagatos de letras de la UCM que se dejan embaucar por una "ideología" política responsable de tantos millones de muertos y aniquilación como Hitler. Pero es que los nazis perdieron la guerra y los comunistas no, y se han preocupado de que nadie cuente las verdades de sus atrocidades y millones de muertos fruto del amor a su pueblo de Lenin o Stalin. Esa idología igual que una secta que promete el paraíso y te trae la degradación y aniquilación. Debería ser lectura obligatoria de preuniversidad. ¿Para cuándo un Erasmus en Venezuela o Cuba que espabile a los borregos que capta el comunismo en España? Vamos al WC con tanto ignorante suelto.

Plunge into the fascinating world of The Gulag system. You will go through its history: It started during Czar times but vastly expanded in the Communist era until Gorbachev with some ups (Stalin, Brezhnev) and downs. It still exists under Putin but more as a prison rather. The different types of camps, their working, the prisoner's populations and how they related o each other as well as the aftermath of separated couples and their children. Yes, I also read tome 1 of the Gulag Archipelago (very hard work). This is very readable and very well documented. This Gulag history has been hidden to the younger Russians, I asked my exiled friend what he knew and he did not know much. He is highly cultured.

Incredible work

I've purchased two books successively from Antoine Online and I'm very happy with both experiences. The delivery is quick and the books are in perfect state. Cannot desire more.

Interessante ed istruttivo. Prima e terza parte ottime.Seconda parte un po' meno buona. Globalmente una bella lettura