Acknowledgements

Some important preliminary research for this book was carried out in 2011 using the collection at Joseph S. Stauffer Library, while on annual research leave and visiting my alma mater, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The bulk of the research was completed while I was on sabbatical from Athabasca University in 2016. An appointment as associate professor (status only) with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) allowed me access to the unparalleled resources at the University of Toronto. Much of the writing was done in the quiet setting of the United Jewish Peoples’ Order’s Camp Naivelt, on the banks of Ontario’s Credit River. It was at one of the camp’s regular summer Sunday bagel brunches where I was first introduced to the writings of Isaac Babel, writings that helped clarify key issues about the Soviet Union in the 1920s. My interest in things Russian goes back to the 1970s. The Russian language professors at York University then and my instructors at Hansa Canada and the University of Toronto in recent years were and have been helpful and patient. The anonymous manuscript reviewers made insightful and helpful comments, many of which I incorporated. The diligent Russian–English translation work of Mariya Melentyeva and Russian language copy editing of Elizabeth Adams from World Communications were indispensable in helping me navigate Russian-language source material. As always, Angela Pietrobon has been indispensable in making a “final pass” over the manuscript. The index was expertly prepared by Michel Pharand. Thanks to Abbie Bakan, who pointed out to me in 2016 that my research into the Russian Revolution was, in fact, the preparation of a book manuscript. As always, every idea in this book emerged in long discussions with Abbie, with whom I have travelled a parallel political and intellectual journey for many years. Responsibility for the final product is, of course, mine alone. Adam, Rachel, and Michael are members of a younger generation that provides the motivation for all meaningful intellectual labour. And as I was going over initial copy editing in July 2019, Gabriel—the youngest of the next generation—was born. Welcome.