While the Earth Shook
New York: Bard and Company, 1927. Presumed First U. S. Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. [12], 336, [4] pages. The original title of this book was Quand La Terre Trembla... copyrighted in 1921. There is no dust jacket present. Jean Schopfer (28 May 1868 – 9 January 1931) was a tennis player competing for France, and a writer, known under the pseudonym of Claude Anet. He reached two singles finals at the Amateur French Championships, winning in 1892 over the American player Francis Louis Fassitt, and losing in 1893 to Laurent Riboulet. Schopfer was born 28 May 1868, Morges, Switzerland. Educated at the Sorbonne and the École du Louvre, Schopfer started writing in 1899. Under the name Claude Anet, Schopfer published many books, including La Révolution Russe, written after a trip to Russia during World War I, Mayerling, based on the Mayerling Incident, and Simon Kra, a biography of tennis player Suzanne Lenglen. His 1920 novel Ariane, jeune fille russe has been adapted into a number of films including Ariane and Love in the Afternoon. Ruth de Rochemont was from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She attended Wellsley College and was an Assistant Art Editor and wrote poetry for the 1905 Legenda, and was a member of the Sketch Club and Society Tau Zeta Epsilon. In 1904 she was the President of the Alliance Francaise (French Alliance). In 1907 she traveled abroad to France, Switzerland, Italy, and India. She died in 1928. Derived from a1927 New York Times review by Edwin Clark: "While the Earth Shook," introduces the Russia of the revolutionary period. It is at once an excellent piece of reporting, a psychological study of critical social change, and the most exciting novel that we have read for a good long time. It is the result of a shrewd observer and a fine craftsman. It is without doubt the best fictional attempt to picture Russia in travail that has appeared to date. While the Earth Shook" begins with the Kerensky overthrow of the monarchy. A broad perspective is obtained indirectly: M. Anet introduces one group of people after another; and then with the progression of events they are drawn together. In days of such quick changes the conflicts of individuals are the subjects of the greater destiny of the nation at large. Petrograd was a city of feeble government and endless rumors at the beginning of the tale. Kerensky had no policy or power behind him. The people waited for the next development. Men like Spasski, the Socialist, and Semeonof, an officer of the guard, debated whether or no to join the Communistic Party The upper class continued to meet at the fashionable salons and conjecture what was going to happen Nicolas Savinski, President of the National Russian Bank, viewed the chaos with detachment and displeasure. The general confusion was increased by the acceptance of the situation by the public in a carnival spirit that masked the emotional conflicts, prejudices and inclination toward indecision. Meanwhile Lenin, with his comrade, Zinovieff, spoke nightly to the people from a balcony within a stone's throw of the Winter Palace, because Kerensky couldn't find troops to drive him out. Working in this detached manner from one group to another, from incident to incident, the panorama of the life of Petrograd is recorded. One by one the gentle folks of the upper classes under the strain of uncertainty disappear from the familiar places. Savinski thought of crossing the border and escaping to Sweden. He felt, however, the urge to stay and see it through. Suddenly a catastrophe came. Petrograd awoke to find that the Bolsheviki had marched in during the night and had the Kerensky Government surrounded in the Winter Palace. The account of this coup and the following days are graphic. Great disorder and turmoil is prevalent, but the Bolsheviki make their controlling position firm by violence and physical power. Those of counter-revolutionary tendency are arrested. Savinski retains his liberty through the patronage of Semeonof, who stood high with Trotsky. Savinski was suspect, for he was in communication with Spasski, who, with members of the old order, was planning a counter-revolution. Finally the home of Savinski was searched, he was arrested and taken to prison, and through the intervention via Semeonof was released. This unconventional story of passion against a most unconventional background is a thing of uncommon attractiveness and unique psychology. In that it is so deftly handled, with an ample account of vast changes and strife of civil war, it is a technical realization of a high order. Russia comes to life in these pages The leaders of the Bolsheviki are understandable people. One sees the pictures of them struggling with their command, retreating to Moscow, making peace with the Germans, putting down revolt and sitting tight on the lid. The home of Prince Volynski, the sick old man, with his futile wife and attractive daughter, facing the destruction of all they have known, is fully portrayed. Even the behavior of the peasants on the country estates is noted. It is a novel of sweeping proportions that is faithful to the fate of individuals caught up in a vast upheaval. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Russian Revolution, Kerensky, Bolshviks, Counter-Revolution, Coup, Trotsky, Moscow, Petrograd, Winter Palace
[Book #91545]
Price: $75.00