February Books 9) Red Plenty, by Francis Spufford

[nwhyte]

This is a really interesting book, a light on an important period of history (the Soviet Union from 1959 to 1969) of which I knew much less than I had realised, looked at through the eyes of true believers in the economic system of Communism as it developed under Khrushchev, who were then bitterly disappointed as Brezhnev and Kosygin (and later

Comments

[bopeepsheep]

The cover has been changed for the paperback. (This came up elsewhere - but I can't remember where - recently.)

[bellinghman]

http://twitter.com/#!/nwbrux (back on the 13th)?

[bopeepsheep]

No, but never mind. It was a community none of you are in. :)

[nwhyte]

Over on Crooked Timber I see a 'Francis S' commenting that "The author in fact tried his damnedest to get the ‘Ya’ removed from the cover, but was told that it represents indispensable marketing shorthand for Russian-ness." So I definitely don't blame him.

[la_marquise_de_]

That goes for faux Chinese characters on books, too. (And clothing.) People like me look them up and are underwhelmed. (I once saw a very tough young man sauntering along in a shirt adorned with Chinese dragons and Chinese characters. The characters did not read 'dragon', however, they read 'pretty little flower'. No, I said nothing.)

[nickbarnes]

Also: lambda is not anything like A.

[strictlytrue]

it is ignorant, and will certainly deter anyone with any real knowledge about Russia from even picking the book up in the shop, let alone buying it.

At the risk of sounding philistine, but as someone with a longstanding interest in the history of the Soviet Union, I can honestly say I didn't care. Your review of the book is spot on though!

I'm really enjoying RP, and as you say, it's about a startingly recent period, when you think about it - but one that often knocks about in the subconscious like it was 200 years ago. And like you, I grew up at a time when the Soviet Union was a vast, apparently immovable object - it's fascinating to get a glimpse into what was going on backstage, as it were, at that time.

[wwhyte]

I've heard about this book and would love to get it but AFAIK it isn't available in the US yet. Love the story about Kruschev going "America will triumph because ... someone has worked out how to make a profit selling a burger for 15 cents!"

Until I came across reviews of this book I had never realised exactly how central planning worked. (In the Soviet Union and satellites, anyway, where they at least tried to make it work -- in China under Mao it seems like it was just another name for rule by fiat). In retrospect it seems crazy. I become more and more convinced that the primary motivation for supporting socialism the fact that most bosses suck rather than theoretical dedication to the implementation of socialism itself.