Three Revolutions: Russia, China, Cuba and the Epic Journeys that Changed the World

by Simon Hall

From the streets of Petrograd during the heady autumn of 1917, to Mao's stunning victory in October 1949, and Fidel's triumphant arrival in Havana, in January 1959, the history of the twentieth century was transformed in dramatic and profound ways by the Russian, Chinese and Cuban revolutions.

Here, the stories of these epoch-defining events are told together for the first time. At the heart of each revolution was an epic journey: Lenin's 1917 return to Russia from exile in Switzerland; Mao's 'Long March' of 1934-35, covering some 6,000 miles across China; and Fidel Castro's return to Cuba in 1956 following his exile in Mexico. Told in tandem with these are the corresponding journeys of three extraordinary journalists - John Reed, Edgar Snow and Herbert L. Matthews - whose electric testimony from the frontlines would make a decisive contribution to how these revolutions were understood in the wider world.

Together, these six journeys changed the course of the twentieth century. Here, in Simon Hall's masterful retelling, these exhilarating events are brought vividly to life. Featuring a stellar cast, extraordinary drama and an epic sweep, Three Revolutions raises fundamental questions about the nature of political power, the limits of idealism and the role of the journalist - questions that remain of utmost urgency today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China, Russia, World History, Audiobook

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2025

About the author

Simon Hall, is best known as the BBC’s Crime Correspondent and the author of The TV Detective novels. He describes some of the remarkable events he has witnessed in his time as a television reporter.

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to three revolutions in three countries in response to the rising discontent of their citizens with the end resulted being the adoption of communism.

Hall also takes a look at three journalist who covered the revolutions and impacted how the world obtained and digested information about these revolutions. Overall, an interesting read.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for an advance copy of this book that looks at the lives of three revolutionaries who faced long a journey before securing their power and changing history, and the lives of their chroniclers who faced a long journey into blame and exile for their writing.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. And that is true of history, also. Small steps can lead to nations falling, ideas becoming popular, and the freshness and new start that revolution promises, slowly becoming something different, maybe even darker. These journeys leave quite a mark on the people who undertook them, from the leaders down to the lowest follower. Chroniclers too can be changed by these journeys, beginning with hopes and ideas, and ending up being called fellow travellers and having to leave all they know. Three Revolutions; Russia, China, Cuba and the Epic Journeys that Changed the World by Simon Hall is a look at six men, three world changers, and three writers, who traveled different paths, had different results, and were changed by their treks.

Three revolutionaries, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong and Fidel Castro and three writers, John Reed, Edgar Snow and Herbert Matthews are discussed in this book, a history of the times they affected and for the writers how the times affected them. The book works as both history and biography, looking at how events and consequences, and how the writers shaped the image of the revolutionaries. The book begins with Lenin, in exile in Switzerland given a chance by the German government in hopes to end Russia's involvement in World War I. Reporting on events was John Reed an American sympathetic to the Russian people, who not only wrote about the revolution, but fought along side. The book moves to China and the Long March, the retreat by the Chinese Communists from their enemies that covered over 6,000 miles, and solidified Mao's hold on the party. Mao was featured prominently in articles by Edgar Snow, whose writings helped Mao secure his power base. The final section deals with Fidel his return from exile in Mexico kicked off the Cuban revolution. Herbert Matthews a reporter with the Times made Castro a cool revolutionary, with a look and a talent that gave the uprising a public relations push that gained him supporters, and a mystique that later changed the way the world thought of him.

An interesting book filled with travels, history and a lot of interesting facts. Hall is a good writer, able to write about three charismatic people in such a way that the information seems fresh and new. Little things like Lenin wanted to pretend to be mute as a disguise, which was laughably stopped by a fellow revolutionary pointing out what happened if Lenin spoke in his sleep. Or Mao and his brother having their own rooms in their house, which was unprecedented. Hall does a good job discussing the chroniclers, those almost true believers who followed the story, in many ways became part of the story, and paid for it with ther own exile. The book has a strong narrative style and doesn't stop moving, even though it covers the lives of six different people. A very different kind of history, but one I quite enjoyed.

[Heather G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Well done! A fascinating look at 3 revolutions that changed so much in the world. Not dry, and very compelling.