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Red Plenty

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( 4,414 ratings, 655 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Red Plenty by Francis Spufford brings to life the era when the Soviet Union believed it could afford every citizen a life of abundance through planned economy and technological innovation. Blending fiction and history, it captures the dreams, ambitions, and eventual disillusionment of those who contributed to this grand socialist vision. The narrative provides a vivid exploration of how optimism met reality in mid-20th century Soviet Russia.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by the ambitious dreams of the Soviet Union during the Khrushchev era, exploring the fascinating intersection of economics, politics, and technology. It presents a vibrant tapestry of historical and fictional narratives, offering a unique perspective on the aspirations and challenges of building a better society through central planning. This work might appeal to those interested in understanding the historical complexities of the Cold War and the human stories behind grand political ideologies.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

What if the Soviet 'miracle' had worked, and the communists had discovered the secret to prosperity, progress and happiness.?

What would have happened if the Soviet 'miracle' had worked, and the communists had discovered the secret to prosperity, progress and happiness?

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Soviet Union was founded on a fairytale. It was built on 20th century magic called 'the planned economy', which was going to gush forth an abundance of good things that the penny-pinching lands of capitalism could never match. And just for a little while, in the heady years of the late 1950s, the magic seemed to be working.

Red Plenty is about that moment in history, and how it came, and how it went away; about the brief era when, under the rash leadership of Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet Union looked forward to a future of rich communists and envious capitalists, when Moscow would out-glitter Manhattan, every Lada would be better engineered than a Porsche and sputniks would lead the way to the stars. And it's about the scientists who did their genuinely brilliant best to make the dream come true, to give the tyranny its happy ending.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Red Plenty by Francis Spufford is praised for its original approach, likened to a Soviet-style narrative akin to a complex film ensemble. It's described as a thrilling read, particularly intriguing for those interested in the dynamics of large governmental systems.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571225248

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 July 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 360g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Francis Spufford's first book, I May Be Some Time: Ice and the English Imagination, was awarded the Writers Guild Award for Best Non-Fiction Book of 1996 and a Somerset Maugham Award. His second book, The Child that Books Built was described as ' witty, compelling and elegant' by the New Statesman. His third book, Backroom Boys, was called a ' beautifully written book' by the Daily Telegraph and was shortlisted for the Aventis Prize and longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. He lives in Cambridge.

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