This excellent work, written 70 years ago, is a true story that reads like a novel. It is the account of the author's life in Russia both before and after its two revolutions. As the British Consul in Moscow, the author was acquainted with all of the main historical characters in Russia's great tragedy, from Tsarist ministers, to the men behind both the first and second revolts. He paints a grim picture of the life there after Lenin took power, but he doesn't spare either himself or others when he speaks of shortcomings in polcy. His personal life also comes under scrutiny, and he is honest about his failings. There is fear when he is arrewted by the Cheka, but it all comes out well in the end. One wonders how much more detail there would have been in this book if the author had waited to write it after World War II, or even a bit later. It is a thriller that is true, and well worth reading for its historical insights into the Russia of 1914-1918!

This book was first published in 1932, fifteen years after the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia. It covers, not only the authors, personal experiences in Russia at that time but his earlier times in Malaya on a rubber plantation. The Malaya portion could have easily been ommited since Lockhart wrote a later account of these years in a book published in 1936. What makes this book worth reading is the Author's description of the chaos which abounded in the Soviet Union before and after Lenin seized power. As an official of the British Foreign Office assigned to their offices in St Petersburg and Moscow he gives a first hand account of the total destruction of old views held by most Soviets and the introduction of Marxist values. His description of the absolute incompetance which was rife in the British Foreign Office at that time and their refusal to accept the consequences of the Revolution is reminiscent of Jimmy Carter and the American Governments refusal to take Khommeini seriously in Iran sixty years later. While this book may be dated in some ways it is still worth reading and provides a reminder that we continue to ignore History' teachings.