Review: _Angel of Vengeance:_ A look at the origins of modern terrorism in 19th century Russia

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One of the most shocking events in Russian history was the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, who was the victim of a bombing in March 1881. Despite being heavily guarded, and with a network of secret police, the terrorists succeeded. But the Tsar wasn't the only victim of eager terrorist. Nearly five years earlier, the governor of St. Petersburg, the capital, was shot in public, by a young woman who concealed a pistol under her shawl and most remarkably, confessed to the shooting. Who was she? And why did she do it, seeking martyrdom that would enable a revolution in a very unequal society. This look at radical politics, and how it took root in Russia is the meat of this nonfiction work.The author, Ana Siljak, begins with the origins of the revolutionary movement, inspired by utopian views where everyone was equal, and there wasn't any poverty. Of course, like many such dreams, this was doomed to failure. Russia in the nineteenth century was brutal for most of its inhabitants. At the start of the century, most of its people were serfs, bound to the land, and able to be bought and sold. It was a harsh, short life for most of them; the lucky ones were those who had talents in music or craftsmanship, and many aristocrats had entire orchestras of serf-musicians, and others set up workshops for those who were talented enough to be noticed. But most laboured unknown and forgotten. For those who had money enough, life was quite enjoyable. While many men entered -- and were expected to -- the military or bureaucracy, quite a few had lives that were idle, indulging themselves in drink or women, or any other vice. Women were expected to be modest, fluent in several languages, and pious. Vera Zasulich was a noblewoman whose family fell on hard times. She was passed along to her aunt and uncle who took her in and saw to it she had an education. Vera was expected to either marry, or enter suitable employment such as a governess or companion. Vera was made of sterner stuff -- books were her window to the wider world. Prominent among those works was the novel _What Is To Be Done?_ by Nikolai Chernyshevsky. In it, Chernyshevsky portrayed a world where there wasn't any poverty, no class, and where people are genuinely happy, working at what they were best at. But to get there, there would have to be revolution -- and if it was violent, so be it. A greater good would rise out of it. For young men and women, this was the answer, and already fed on the works of Turgenev and Bakutin, this tied it all together. For the government, already sensing the rise of radicals, this was dangerous work indeed -- and Chernyshevsky would eventually be imprisoned and exiled. But the novel was out there, and it became required reading for would-be revolutionaries. Others took the novel and the ideas in it, and expanded it. One of these Sergei Nechaev -- and his ideas not only embraced revolution, but also demanded martyrs. If someone killed an official or aristocrat, it would further the cause. But Nechaev didn't stop there -- he collected names and addresses, and published pamphlets and articles from his European exile, and sent them into Russia, and into the hands of revolutionaries. One of those was Vera, whom Nachev courted through letters, and unhappily for Vera, she became his dupe. That would lead her into prison and internal exile from the capital. Eventually, it would take her to the office of General Trepov, and the assassination attempt that would make her famous... I learnt a great deal about how revolution took such hold on Russian minds and hearts. Step by step, I could see how such an ideaology would eventually give birth to the terrorist -- the revolutionary who would give their own life to kill authority and do what they must to bring down an autocracy. At points the writing became very chilling, where the fervour of religion was taken away, but replaced by an equally passionate new ideal. Vera's story is interwoven with the larger tale, and while the writing did get a bit dry in spots, I found it be very informative. It's not for everyone, but for those who are interested in how the Russian revolution got started and how these ideas are still with us today in the tumult of the Mid-East and ISIL. I give this one four stars, and while it had a slow start, I can recommend it for those who are interested in history. Angel of Vengeance: The Girl Who Shot the Governor of St. Petersburg and Sparked the Age of Assassination Ana Siljak 2008; St. Martin's Press ISBN 978-1-4299-6084-7