A thorough and intelligently summarized history of the Soviet Union, from the socio-political origins for the Bolshevik Revolution of O ctober 1917 to the near end of Mikhail Gorbachev's government, immediately prior to the downfall of “real communism“ and the splitting of the USSR. Conducted by British historian Robert Conquest, narrative benefits from a careful research of archive footage and from recent interviews with mostly common who participated in the events. Volume One--Revolutionaries. From the fall of the Tsar to the rise of Lenin, the workers' hero. Volume Two--Winners and Losers. World War I leads to Civil War and victory for Communisim. Volume Three--Class Warriors. Joseph Stalin seizes control, sounding the socialist message. Volume Four. Enemies of the People. Stalin builds the gulags for traitors, turning citizen against citizen. Volume Five--Patriots. The devastation of World War II threatens the empire's survival. Volume Six--Survivors. The birth of the Cold War launches Khrushchev's rise to power. Volume Seven--Prisoners of the Past. Gorbachev and his reforms aim the Soviet Union towards the future.