Gulag: A History

Gulag: A History
Anne Applebaum
Copyright: 2003
Anchor Books

5 Bookmarks out of 5

So, I know that I've been MIA for awhile. I decided to undertake this particular book a month ago, thinking it would take me about two weeks to read. It is 586 pages long with SUPER tiny print. I bought this book close to five years ago, so I finally decided it was time to finish it all the way through. I remember being super interested in this period of Soviet history back when I bought it, and I'm glad that I still am super interested in it. Luckily, Anne Applenaum gave me enough information about the Gulag to last me a lifetime.

To begin with, Applebaum chose an interesting way to describe the Gulag system. Since the book covers the entire length of the history of the Gulag - which lasts from the 1920s through the 1980s - I assumed that it would be told like a story. I thought Applebaum would explain how things changed from decade to decade. I was happy to see that Applebaum does choose to tell it in a chronological format in Part I of the book as well as Part III. However, what was a truly exciting discovery, is that Applebaum uses Part II of the book to describe different themes in the Gulag - from how prisoners were arrested dying and escape. These special categories provide a great insight for readers - especially readers who have no background with the Gulag system at all.

Usually, as a student with a background in the social sciences, I find it hard to digest nonfiction, historical books written by authors who have no particular expertise in history. However, Applebaum did so much extensive research that I easily forgot about it and fell into the deep history of the Soviet Union and the Gulag. What stood out to me in particular is how Applebaum actually want to Russia to visit the sites of these camps as well as talk to survivors and their families. It leads to an authenticity that some reporters fail to reach when writing historical works. The only thing that I feel is missing is more of the story from the point of view of those who ran the camp system - on that, I feel as if the book is slightly lacking. This is a book about the survivors, so please be aware of that before you begin it.

That being said, this book is not a casual read by any means. I like to think of myself as a voracious reader who has read many books in her time on this earth. However, this book has so much information to digest that it's hard to read it casually. This reminds me of a book that I would have read during my undergraduate career more than a casual book pick out of the library over the weekend. Once you finish the book, however, you will feel a strong sense of accomplishment. This book is an experience that anyone who is interested in the history of humanity - how we can reach the depths of cruelty and still survive all the same.

This book is definitely worthy of my 5 bookmarks out of 5 rating. The depth and breadth of the book could have been a difficult thing to master, but Applebaum pulls it off flawlessly. One of the coolest things about the book is the fact that Applebaum states that "This book was not written 'so that it will not happen again,' as the clich[e] would have it. This book was written because it almost certainly will happen again. (page 577)." Applebaum keeps her analysis of human nature hopefully, but brutally realistic. This is a must-read have for any library, in my humble opinion.