Reminiscences and Reflections (Volume 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Herzen (Russia), translated by Xiang Xingyao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1993-05-01
Features: Memoirs of a Revolted Spirit is a memoir written by Herzen with blood and tears. It not only faithfully and sincerely records his life but, as he said, it is also "a reflection of history on a person who accidentally took its path." The book covers a wide range of topics, from the War of 1812, the uprising of the Decembrists, the lives and thoughts of advanced Russian intellectuals in the 1840s, the revolutionary turmoil in Europe in 1848, the bloody suppression of the reactionary bourgeois regime against the people, to the activities and factional struggles of émigrés from various countries in London in the 1950s, and the social and political landscape of Russia and the growth of a new generation of revolutionaries—what Herzen called the "young helmsmen of the future storm"—almost encompassing the entire historical period from the early 19th century to the eve of the Paris Commune. Herzen's experiences in Russia exposed him to people from high-ranking nobles to common laborers, and his descriptions form an "encyclopedia of Russian life." After coming to Western Europe, he encountered the climax of the 1848 revolution, witnessed the grand and sweeping mass scenes of Europe's national and democratic movements, and also experienced the bitter aftermath of the failed struggle. He wrote his memoirs as a historical witness, and one of its most distinctive features lies in the fact that he did not depict and evaluate everything from a personal perspective but from the perspective of social development. According to his own account, this is not simply a chronicle or a record of major events; it has a unified starting point, which is his deep concern for the cause of people's liberation and his passionate exploration of progressive social thought. Herzen was not only an artist but also an essayist. As early as the 1840s, Belinsky pointed out that the great characteristic of Herzen's artistic works lay in the "power of thought." His memoirs are no exception. Herzen always stood on the height of upholding the cause of progress, evaluating all historical events and the activities of individuals. In Herzen's view, a writer's social responsibility is paramount, which determines his writing intentions and purposes. Writing is not merely a matter of the author but a part of the entire social cause of humanity. Therefore, in his memoirs, political and philosophical interjections are almost everywhere, which also constitutes a fundamental feature of the book. He titled the book Memoirs of a Revolted Spirit for this very reason.