History lovers, prepare to be transported to the heart of Petrograd during the Russian Revolution with "Into Russia’s Cauldron." Steven Fisher’s compelling presentation of Leighton W. Rogers’ century-old journal is not just a window into the chaos of 1917 Russia but a gripping narrative of ambition, hubris, and transformation.

Rogers, a young American banker, arrived in Russia on a mission—sent by the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank) to stake a claim in the burgeoning Russian market. Armed with the bank president’s bold vision that Russia’s thirst for capital mirrored the Sahara’s need for water, Rogers quickly found himself grappling with a world on the brink of revolution. His journal is equal parts personal reflection and political analysis, capturing a world unraveling in vivid, unflinching detail.

The journal’s immediacy is breathtaking. Rogers chronicles a city where riots rage, food shortages spread, and political tensions grow. He vividly describes his encounters with everything from opulent bank offices adorned in gold to dangerous street protests where Cossacks clash with demonstrators. The contrasts between luxury and desperation, opportunity and peril, are striking.

Fisher’s careful framing makes this book more than just a historical diary. Interwoven with Rogers’ firsthand accounts are insights that contextualize the events, giving readers both the raw emotion of an eyewitness and the clarity of hindsight. This dual perspective transforms the book into a study not just of history but of human resilience and the often-blind ambition of institutions that fail to read the room.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Young Leighton William Rogers did not know what he'd struck. In St Petersburg to work for an American bank started by the ambitious Frank Vanderlip, he faced a Russia full of discontent. The streets were full of beggars; there were riots on the street; food shortages and heavy war losses made the city rife with misery. He had to work long hours, and often run clear of Cossacks and protesting workers, only to go back to a nasty landlady, a very dirty flat and little food. However, the bank itself was opulent with gilded chairs and divans and gold curtains. Rogers wrote that he had 'never seen so much gilt and silk and glittering gloss'.

In the midst of an incipient Revolution, Rogers surprisingly managed to have a good time, going to operas and ballets, and dining out at the cafes. He also moved to a much nicer apartment (which sounds quite grand and spacious) eventually. But he quickly had to learn to avoid danger and make tough decisions about what he should do.

Rogers's analysis of politics and the important names of the time, such as Lenin and Kerensky appears to be sport-on, and remarkably prescient. He describes Kerensky's plight, being caught between the moderates and the mendacious, power-hungry Bolsheviks extremely well. He also doesn't have any time for Lenin, or his being helped by the German government, but he understands the state of the people. He is also very interesting about Empress Alexandra and the situation with Rasputin. He paints a vivid picture of being in Russia at this dangerous time.

I received this ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Meticulously researched.

More than just journal entries, historical knowledge is interspersed to make better sense of said entries.

A great supplemental reading alongside or for anyone that has exhausted other Russian history books.

Fascinating and unique perspective of a pivotal period of history. One man's experience , told through his journal entries , of living through the very beginnings of the Russian Revolution. Living near ground zero of this tumultuous time his detailed descriptions are novel-worthy in their scope and opinions. As an American living in Russia during this time, with his limited knowledge of what was going on around him politically and culturally , he learns some hard life lessons that were not wasted on him late in life.
This is a worthy addition to any collection on this time period .