30 August 1917. Maximilian Voloshin with Boris Savinkov

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Maximilian Voloshin with Boris Savinkov

Voloshin's house, 43, Marine street, Koktebel, Crimea

According to Gorky, who had just arrived in Koktebel, the issue of the death penalty emerged, with Savinkov calling for its introduction in the rear and Kerensky expressing a desire to abolish executions once again. But, given that the introduction of the death penalty is essentially the abolition of lynch law (i.e., the selfsame death penalty, meted out for what are essentially insignificant instances of misconduct), it will undoubtedly be introduced sooner or later; the most terrible thing about revolutions is sensitivity: it always ends up yielding the bloodiest fruits.

When the death penalty was being abolished, I said: fine, this is certainly the first gesture that needed to be made, but, alas, it does mean that the Russian revolution will be very bloody. I said this even as everyone was boasting about the “bloodlessness” of the Russian revolution. The least cruel are those who kill out of necessity and for the good of the endeavour, without any thought of justice and retribution. I believe that, of the two generative forces, Kerensky possesses only faith, but that he lacks a sufficiently profound contempt, and that he’s approaching the limit of his capacities...

, and others

Comment

✍ Also today

Velimir Khlebnikov

Kharkov, Russian Empire

It was a crazy summer, when after a long captivity in the spare infantry regiment, sealed off from the other regiments by a barbed wire fence - at night we crowded round the fence and through the cemetery,through the lights of the city of the dead, See more

, and others

3 Like

Comment

Igor Stravinsky

Diableler, Switzerland

I continued my work on the last scene of Les Noces throughout the summer, and finished a piece for the pianola. In an effort, perhaps, to avoid losing ground on my predecessors, who, on their return from Spain, would nail down their impressions in pieces inspired by Spanish music, I too indulged myself and paid tribute to this tradition. See more

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Anton Denikin

The struggle continues. It is an expansive, harsh ordeal, in which nerves are racked beyond measure and a desperate fatigue sets in. I am not finding it easy.

, and others

Comment

George Buchanan

4, Dvortsovaya embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire (British Embassy)

Tereschenko, with whom I had a conversation on his return from Moscow, considers that the conference has strengthened the hands of the Government. See more

, and others

Comment

Alexander Zamaraev

Totma, Vologodskaya guberniya, Russian Empire

I threshed some rye. Then in the evening I went to look for the horse, but did not find it.

, and others

2 Like

Comment

Nicholas II

Tobolsk, Russian Empire

It was a wonderful day — in the shade 19 degrees and on the balcony 36 degrees. Alexis's arm hurt. During the morning we spent an hour in the garden and during the afternoon two hours. Yesterday I began to read L'ile enchantée. During the evening we played dominoes, Alix, Tatiana, Botkin, and I. During tea time, a large thunderstorm came up. It was a moonlit night.

, and others

3 Like

Comment

29 August

It’s very nice in Crimea

Goncharova must bring back presents for Akhmatova from the best Parisian department store.

"Kerensky's speeches was the scream of a megalomaniac, hysterical through and through"

Nightmare before Christmas

Death of Rasputin. Murder conspiracy and its consequences

1916: Year in Review.

+17

in Petrograd

+16

in Moscow