Five Sisters: Women Against the Tsar
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Violent movements opposing existing political orders erupted throughout nineteenth-century Europe, but nowhere was this revolutionary impulse made more dramatically visible than in Russia. "Five Sisters" - first published in 1975 - presents English translations of the memoirs of five of Russia's most renowned female revolutionaries - Vera Figner, Vera Zasulich, Praskovia Ivanovskaia, Olga Liubatovich, and Elizaveta Kovalskaia. Engel and Rosenthal have added a new introduction and an updated list of suggested readings. A welcome reboot of a widely read classic, students and specialists of Russian history and women's studies will find this collection to be a fascinating record of tumultuous times.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0875806902
ISBN13:9780875806907
Release Date:March 2013
Publisher:Northern Illinois University Press
Length:212 Pages
Weight:0.88 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 5.5" x 8.4"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Riveting stories of real women revolutionaries
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Though I was assigned this book for a college class, I would have loved to have read it on my own. This book includes 5 memoirs of women revolutionaries between 1860-1890, just a few years before the Russian Revolution is said to have started. These women are as unique and bold as their stories read and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a real glance into history.
Absolutely Fascinating
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This book sat unread on my shelves for a while, and now I can't believe it didn't actually leap off the shelf into my hands to MAKE me read it; it's so utterly fascinating and engrossing that I haven't been able to put it down. I was expecting some dry history and feminism; this is a fascinating first-person portrait (or rather, five first-person portraits) of political struggle, social norms, everyday life, and revolution from the writings of five very literate, engaging writer/revolutionaries. I hardly know how to review a book like this (since I can't talk about plot or about structure of arguments, as it's first-person memoirs), but it's been among the most worthwhile 250 pages of my reading life.
This book is a porthole to the life of the Intelligentsia.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
The most amazing thing about this book is its entertainment value actually equals its historic value. These are bios of women who put their values and the lives of Russian peasants ahead of their own. It features the primary account of the world famous assassination of Governor Trepov from the pen of his assassin, Vera Zasulich. It also features Vera Figner's account of her unsuccessful (and finally successful) attempts to assassinate Tsar Alexander II. The sacrifices of these women include shedding aristocratic lifestyles for back breaking labor in noblemen's fields so they could teach peasants how to read and spread propaganda for their cause. Some of their comrades actually went insane in the process. You will read about their experiences as exiles in Siberia, and one of the greatest escapes Hollywood never saw. Whether you consider yourself a history buff, or just appreciate great stories, you will love this book.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
