Competing against a slew of titles commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Russian Revolution, McMeekin (history, Bard Coll., The Ottoman Endgame) seeks to compile a definitive and seminal analysis utilizing newly accessible archival research. The book spans a wider timeframe starting in 1905 to allow more perspective on contributing events leading to the uprising. Additionally, the goal is to "rediscover the revolution as it transpired in real time, from the perspective of key actors who did not know, as they acted, how the story would turn out." The rise of what we now know as communism was not always a forgone conclusion. This title is similar to S. A. Smith's Russia in Revolution: An Empire in Crisis, 1890 to 1928, which also covers an extended timeframe on both sides of the revolution within a broader critical analysis. But McMeekin succeeds in offering a fresh take through inclusivity of contributing events beyond the depth of all other titles. However, this inclusivity is at times its weakness, as the work becomes overwhelming with lesser-known personages and events. VERDICT A well-written and rewarding read on the Russian Revolution's lasting historical import. Essential for research collections, scholars, and informed readers.—Jessica Bushore, Xenia, OH