Romantic Revolutionary: A Biography of John Reed
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Author Description
Review A magnificent, thoughtful, moving book. Written with poetic sweep, [it] recreates a vital era of American history and restores John Reed, the legend, to life. Romantic Revolutionary will long be read as the definitive work about a man who lived and epic life in quest of an ideal. (Dorothy Samachson Chicago Daily News)We see Jack Reed not only as the daring adventurer, the successful, celebrated, attractive hero, but in his ordeals, in his less than lovable, less than admirable moments, in his stormy and sometimes pathetic relationships, in his ambition and drive for achievement, for sensation, in his moments of despair. (Robert Kirsch Los Angeles Times Book Review)A superb biography, a model of how to trace the growth of a mind while staying true to the facts. (Roger Rosenblatt New Republic)The most authoritative account of the life of the author of 'Ten Days That Shook the World'. (Boston Globe) About the Author Robert A. Rosenstone is Professor of History, California Institute of Technology, and author of Mirror in the Shrine: American Encounters with Meiji Japan and Romantic Revolutionary: A Biography of John Reed (both from Harvard).
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This biography investigates the life and political evolution of John Reed, the American journalist and activist who documented the Russian Revolution. Robert A. Rosenstone, a Professor of History at the California Institute of Technology, utilizes extensive primary source research to examine how Reed transitioned from a privileged youth to a committed revolutionary. The text argues that Reed's life serves as a lens through which to view the radical political climate of the early twentieth century and the personal costs of ideological devotion.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A detailed account of John Reed's upbringing and early career in journalism.
- Analysis of Reed's experiences during the Mexican Revolution and the Russian Revolution.
- Examination of Reed's complex personal relationships and internal psychological conflicts.
Scope Limits
- The book focuses primarily on Reed's public and political life, with less emphasis on his private domestic life outside of his political partnerships.
- It does not provide a comprehensive history of the Russian Revolution itself, but rather focuses on Reed's specific role and perspective within those events.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and historians consistently identify this work as the definitive biographical account of John Reed's life and career. Experts highlight the author's ability to balance rigorous historical documentation with a narrative style that captures the subject's complex personality.
Page Count:
464
Publication Date:
1982-01-01
Publisher:
Penguin Books
ISBN-10:
0140063749
ISBN-13:
9780140063745
History
Biography
American History
Journalists
Journalism
