- 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 arrested and executed
B) They retired with full pensions
C) They were relocated to other cities
D) They were promoted to higher positions
- 2. How does Slezkine characterize the Bolshevik revolutionaries' worldview?
A) As democratic idealists
B) As nationalist patriots
C) As a millenarian religious movement
D) As purely economic reformers
- 3. What was the original intended purpose of the House of Government?
A) To be Stalin's personal palace
B) To house Soviet elite and their families
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 orphaned or also persecuted
B) They became anti-communist activists
C) They inherited their parents' positions
D) They were sent to elite boarding schools abroad
- 5. What was the dominant feature of residents' daily lives according to Slezkine?
A) International diplomacy
B) Scientific research
C) Leisure and entertainment
D) Political meetings and ideological work
- 6. How does the book characterize the Bolsheviks' view of time?
A) As cyclical and repetitive
B) As linear progress toward communism
C) As fundamentally unpredictable
D) As irrelevant to political work
- 7. How does Slezkine describe the ultimate fate of the Bolshevik dream?
A) As consumed by the violence it created
B) As peacefully transformed into democracy
C) As successfully achieved by the 1950s
D) As exported successfully worldwide
- 8. What source materials does Slezkine heavily rely on for his research?
A) Archaeological evidence
B) Diaries, letters, and personal accounts
C) Only official government documents
D) Foreign intelligence reports
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