I initially wanted to read this book out of an interest in the Russian Revolution, but, while that definitely comes up, this work is more U.S. focused, discussing how America came to join the First World War and the role of the Russian Revolution in changing how Americans viewed the conflict. The stories included cover a wide range of people, events, and topics - a Black jazz musician, the first women member of Congress, socialist revolutionaries and newspaper columnists all share in the history which made March of 1917 a turning point in history. If you're interested in Russian-American relations or how the United States entered WWI, this is a great book to read. ( )

5491. March 1917 On the Brink of War and Revolution, by Will Englund (read 4 Aug 2017) This is a non-academic account of two momentous things which went on March of 1917: the revolution in Russia which overthrew the Czar, and the leadup to the declaration of war by the United States. Other happenings in the month are discussed, but the discussion is focused on Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt and the slide to war, and the events in Russia leading to the abdication of Nicholas II and the start of democracy in Russia--which was destroyed by the October Bolshevik revolution in November 1917. There are things which few now recall--e.g., that even Wilson's Cabinet members did not know what he would ask Congress to do when at 8:32 P.M. on April 2, 1917, Wilson arrived at the Capitol to address Congress! There was good selective research which went into the book, and one is lightly introduced to many of the events of the month. Early on, though, in the book I was disturbed by the author's statement that Wilson and the Democrats won in a landslide in 1916, which of course they did not, since Wilson was only elected by the failure of Hughes to carry California and the House had more Republicans than Democrats, the Democrats only organizing the House with the help of a few third party representatives. And the author says William Jennings Bryan was a native of Omaha, whereas it is known even to me that Bryan was born in Illinois. These misstatements disturb because one wonders what else the author has wrong when he makes such obvious errors.. ( )