Pick of the Paperbacks

There are two events in Russian history which, separately, excite ad miration and horror. Pan Books have just issued two paperbacks dealing with these two events—one of 590 pages which tells the story of the last of the Tzars, Nicholas II, Queen Vic toria’s “Dear Nicky”, and the horror of his death and that of his whole family in a cellar at the hands of the Bolsheviks. The other, of 760 pages is the story of Leningrad’s heroic 900 days’ defiance of the Nazi invaders in World War II.

It’s hardly likely that the Emperor and his consort Alexandra knew much about the sufferings of the Russian working class. They lived in the days when, even in England, those out of the top drawer thought it was the Almighty’s will that the rich should prosper and the poor should suffer, that the working man shouldn’t own a watch; his betters would count the hours.

But, whatever the condition of the lower classes, Communism was not really out to elevate it. Its real aim was to achieve an impossible ideal, to propagate, and prove a myth and a fallacy—that the human race, given a classless society and equality of wealth and opportunity, would banish greed, selfishness and even the state and law and order. There would be no need for any of the trammels of capitalism. But, although more than half a century has elapsed, there are no signs in Russia of the withering away of the state and formal rule.

There is no classless society. True, there is no blue-blooded aristocracy.

It perished in an Ekaterinburg cellar and has been replaced by a Red elite.

The 900 Days, the story of the agony of a city and the heroism of a people, has little to do with the philosophies of communism. Harrison E. Salisbury went to many sources for his story—the survivors of the siege, war despatches, party records and imagination, which always sup plies the most dramatic episodes. The result is a thrilling, dramatic and horror-filled story with much of the horror stemming from human vice and frailty which no “ism”, least of all Communism will ever abolish — JC.

(Nicholas And Alexandra, By

Robert K. Massie, Pan Books. $1.55 THE

900 Days: The Siege Of Leningrad

by Harrison E. Salisbury, Pan Books. $3.) For lovers of love stories involving humans and animals, Joy Adamson produced an unforgettable classic in Born Free, a fascinating study which, as far as it could, seemed to bridge the gap between animal and man.

The relationship achieved by Joy and her husband George with the lioness Elsa was as near-perfect as possible. There were many sad hearts when Born Free readers learned of the death of Elsa. But, the love story continued with Elsa’s cubs. Fontana has earned the gratitude of Elsa lovers by its offering of three volumes covering the whole romance. — Born Free, $1.10. Living Free, $1.10.

Forever Free, $1.25.