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A review by louiza_read2live
Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia by Gregory Wallance
3.75
(Maybe 4 stars) I knew some things about the Siberia prisons in the 1800s and the awful conditions under which the exiles survived (if they did); however, I knew nothing about George Kennan before this book although he was the one who first fully exposed the life of these prisoners and political exiles.
The American George Kennan used to defend the 19th century Russian system of exiling prisoners and political opponents to Siberia thinking that they have a better experience than prisoners elsewhere because their families could follow them and be with them. Kennan, however, quickly changed his mind when he and the sketch artist Robert Frost travelled all the way to Siberia to investicate the Siberian prisons and report back to the United States. Their journey lasted one year from 1885-1886 where they experienced first hand the deplorable conditions under which the prisoners lived, not only criminals, but anyone who opposed the regime (and their families who often volunteered to go with them). Kennan and Frost returned in 1886, and Kennan almost immediately set to a campaign against the Russian violation of human rights that shocked the 19th century Americans and generated some strong reactions against the Tsar, Alexander III (which I found interesting if we were to think that at the same time the United States was still perpetrating their very own violation of human rights and it was just 20 years earlier that they had fought the Civil War to end slavery). The book touches on this contradiction in the last chapter.
A good book, but it started very slow with dry details of Kennan's life, while I couldn't wait to be immersed in his experience in investigating the Siberian prisons. Just over a hundred pages, it really picked up and it kept my interest till the end. I don't think this book is spectacular in any way, but it is interesting and a good basic introduction to the topic and to Kennan's character.
The even better part for me was the bibliography given at the end of the book and through the endnotes. Definitely, I will be reading George Kennan's book Siberia and the Exile System. I have also put several other interesting books on my list to read, including among others: Siberia and The House of the Dead: Siberian Exile Under the Tsars by Daniel Beer that if you are interested is on kindle for $6.99 and Sakhalin Island by Anton Chekhov also on Kindle for $4.99.
The American George Kennan used to defend the 19th century Russian system of exiling prisoners and political opponents to Siberia thinking that they have a better experience than prisoners elsewhere because their families could follow them and be with them. Kennan, however, quickly changed his mind when he and the sketch artist Robert Frost travelled all the way to Siberia to investicate the Siberian prisons and report back to the United States. Their journey lasted one year from 1885-1886 where they experienced first hand the deplorable conditions under which the prisoners lived, not only criminals, but anyone who opposed the regime (and their families who often volunteered to go with them). Kennan and Frost returned in 1886, and Kennan almost immediately set to a campaign against the Russian violation of human rights that shocked the 19th century Americans and generated some strong reactions against the Tsar, Alexander III (which I found interesting if we were to think that at the same time the United States was still perpetrating their very own violation of human rights and it was just 20 years earlier that they had fought the Civil War to end slavery). The book touches on this contradiction in the last chapter.
A good book, but it started very slow with dry details of Kennan's life, while I couldn't wait to be immersed in his experience in investigating the Siberian prisons. Just over a hundred pages, it really picked up and it kept my interest till the end. I don't think this book is spectacular in any way, but it is interesting and a good basic introduction to the topic and to Kennan's character.
The even better part for me was the bibliography given at the end of the book and through the endnotes. Definitely, I will be reading George Kennan's book Siberia and the Exile System. I have also put several other interesting books on my list to read, including among others: Siberia and The House of the Dead: Siberian Exile Under the Tsars by Daniel Beer that if you are interested is on kindle for $6.99 and Sakhalin Island by Anton Chekhov also on Kindle for $4.99.