- 1. The House of Government by Yuri Slezkine is an expansive historical narrative that intricately explores the monumental political and social transformations in early twentieth-century Russia, particularly focusing on the lives of the Bolshevik elite who inhabited a grand Moscow apartment building known as the House of Government. Slezkine meticulously weaves together personal stories, rigorous historical analysis, and rich cultural context to illustrate how this group of revolutionary leaders, once hailed as the harbingers of a new socialist society, grappled with the complexities of power, ideology, and the human condition against the backdrop of tumultuous events such as the Russian Revolution, the Civil War, and the consolidation of Stalin's regime. The book delves into the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by these individuals, dissecting their ambitions, fears, relationships, and the ultimate disillusionment that emerged as the idealism of their revolutionary youth collided with the grim realities of governing and living in a totalitarian state. Through a compelling blend of biographical detail and political history, Slezkine captures the essence of a vibrant yet tragic era, presenting not only the grand narrative of a nation undergoing seismic shifts but also the intimate portraits of those who shaped and were shaped by these historical currents.
What fate befell many residents of the House of Government during the Great Purge?
A) They were relocated to other cities
B) They were promoted to higher positions
C) They retired with full pensions
D) They were arrested and executed
- 2. How does Slezkine characterize the Bolshevik revolutionaries' worldview?
A) As a millenarian religious movement
B) As democratic idealists
C) As nationalist patriots
D) As purely economic reformers
- 3. What was the original intended purpose of the House of Government?
A) To house Soviet elite and their families
B) To be Stalin's personal palace
C) To serve as a military headquarters
D) To function as a luxury hotel for foreigners
- 4. What happened to the children of purged residents in many cases?
A) They were sent to elite boarding schools abroad
B) They were orphaned or also persecuted
C) They inherited their parents' positions
D) They became anti-communist activists
- 5. What was the dominant feature of residents' daily lives according to Slezkine?
A) Leisure and entertainment
B) International diplomacy
C) Political meetings and ideological work
D) Scientific research
- 6. How does the book characterize the Bolsheviks' view of time?
A) As linear progress toward communism
B) As cyclical and repetitive
C) As irrelevant to political work
D) As fundamentally unpredictable
- 7. How does Slezkine describe the ultimate fate of the Bolshevik dream?
A) As consumed by the violence it created
B) As exported successfully worldwide
C) As peacefully transformed into democracy
D) As successfully achieved by the 1950s
- 8. What source materials does Slezkine heavily rely on for his research?
A) Only official government documents
B) Archaeological evidence
C) Foreign intelligence reports
D) Diaries, letters, and personal accounts
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