The Red Flag

David Priestland lehrt Neuere Geschichte in Oxford und ist Fellow der dortigen St. Edmund Hall. Zu seinen Forschungsschwerpunkten gehören der Vergleich kommunistischer Systeme und die Beziehung zwischen Politik und Ideologie. Die Geschichte des Kommunismus hat er in Oxford und an der Staatlichen Universität Moskau erforscht. Priestland hat zahlreiche historische Werke veröffentlicht.

“The best and the most accessible one-volume history of communism now available . . . A far-reaching, vividly written account." —Foreign Affairs

"Written in lively prose, this is a rich, satisfying account of the most successful utopian political movement in history." —Publishers Weekly

“Hugely ambitious and boldly achieved, The Red Flag explores the roots, perversions, and manifold intellectual and geographic developments of the most dynamic and disruptive political movement of modern times, and David Priestland's compelling narrative explains how even in discredit and defeat it achieved a paradoxical success by forcing critical reforms in the ranks of its capitalist foes." —Martin Walker, author of The Cold War: A History

“David Priestland offers a magnificent account of the rise and fall of Communism in the twentieth century on a global scale. He combines penetrating analysis with a strong sense of historical development, providing consistently sharp and original insights. He writes in a stylish and engaging fashion and in a spirit that is empathetic yet always critical. The use of cultural history is especially innovative and provides the reader with a vivid sense of everyday life in Communist societies. Altogether this is a remarkable book that challenges stale and stereotypical ways of thinking about the failed Communist experiment." —Steve Smith, professor of history at European University Institute and author of Revolution and the People in Russia and China

“A mesmerizing survey of the ideological and political history of Communism. Priestland successfully crafts a global account of Communism's development and mutation across nations and generations, deftly combining academic rigor, personal histories, and an engaging narrative. Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Red Flag provides a formative account of Communism's rise and fall and its extraordinary impact on the lives of millions." —Tristram Hunt, author of The Frock-Coated