Gulag: A History of the Soviet Camps [Paperback]

Applebaum writes at length about the needless suffering of the hundreds, thousands, and then millions, who were abused, starved, and worked to death daily, under the auspices of the Soviet camp system. Importantly, the individual punishing regimes implemented by the guards and commanders themselves are not ignored, although there is recognition that cruelty and criminality was not universal among them. Having said this, one need look no further for a vision of Hell itself, than to read the depictions of life aboard the transport ships which sailed between the Kamkatchka area and ports such as Vladivostok, built by Gulag labour.

The 'Gulag' itself has become an almost iconic term of oppression and dictatorial power in studies of twentieth century Russia, and what the reader witnesses in Applebaum's book, is the dragging of this Soviet holocaust into the light for all to see. Contrary to the opinions of the obviously misled and misread Mr Podmore, it is not socialism that is portrayed in such excruciatingly horrific detail, but a degenerative communist political system in the guise of Stalinism. Applebaum makes comparisons between the Gulag and the Nazi's system of concentration camps, but reveals such a connection to be inconclusive and limited, the intended ethos of each differing widely from the other.

Applebaum also reveals in her lucid, and painstakingly researched book, much about the rationale behind the Soviet system and its attitude towards its people at all levels, with disgraced ex-party members often occupying cells or camp barracks alongside peasant farmers and criminals, who were commonly favoured by the camp staff. The story of the Gulag is synonymous with that of Stalinism and its immediate aftermath, and it is refreshing to read a book that points equally to the facts that: a) the Gulag spread rapidly under Stalin, its workforce being the pivotal unit in the Five Year Plans, but that: b) the numbers of inmates in the camps wasn't at its highest during the purges of the thirties, but following the Second World War, in fact peaked in the early 1950s.

For a broad and felicitous understanding of twentieth century Russian history, this work is essential. It demonstrates that although corrupt regimes may rise and fall over time, they are ever in the present with regard to their effects on the human psyche. In some respects, Applebaum's book illustrates exactly where the communist dream went wrong in Russia, and where the system's scorn of its own limitations was focused most acutely. It was called the 'Gulag'. Absolutely superb!

Anna Applebaum, I think, offers a reasonable balanced historical review of what was however one looks at is a tragedy of the human race. One review remarked that the statistics used in the book where way off the mark, stating the reported deaths at the hands of Stalin were far lower. Even at this lower amount I think we can all agree it was still a tragedy and to be honest genocide.

What shocked me most in the book was not the numbers though, and I would urge anyone who is going to read this to look past them and really try and delve into the human stories and aspects of the book - from all participants. Now you must be careful with any eye witness account as we all know but the stories that come out of this book are at times truly horrific.

I don't want anyone how reads this to think that the book glorifies the violence of the time, Applebaum actually deals with it quite sensitively and in truth doesn't spend a huge amount of time on it. That is what makes it horrific.

The vivid accounts of the treatment these prisons received belies believe and even having read in detail the practises I cannot begin to imagine what life must have been like during these times. Having feelings such as this after having finished reading is what makes the book as powerful as it is. No dramatics, no song and dance, just short accounts that could honestly make your toes curl.

I would hope that anyone reading this book is adult enough to make up their own mind and not to be swayed into changing their entire belief system over one book. If you don't believe areas of the book, read other books that I am sure will offer a different, and most certainly valid point. Take this for what it is and I hope from it you will learn something, just as I did.