Midnight in the Century by Victor Serge
Translated by Richard Greeman
Victor Serge is fast becoming an author I turn to when I want a book that I know will be enthralling and beautifully written. After discovering him via his “Conquered City” in 2014, I was recently bowled over by “The Case of Comrade Tulayev”. And after spending some time in the rarefied world of (fictional) history (I’m reviewing a little out of order here), I felt that I needed to read something that dealt with the human side of the past and how it affected people on a smaller scale – so Serge seemed the ideal choice.
“Midnight in the Century” was first published in 1939, and whilst looking through the introduction I realised that I was slightly reading Serge’s books out of order; events in this one, though not directly leading onto “Comrade Tulayev”, do feature at least one character who will turn up in that book. However, that didn’t faze me too much…. 🙂
“Midnight” is a story about exile; most of the action takes place in the Siberian town of Black Waters, where a number of political deportees have been sent. There is the old Bolshevik Rhyzik (who will play a crucial part in “Tulayev”); Varvara, determined yet vulnerable; Avelii, drawn to Varvara despite the risks involved in becoming emotionally attached; Kostrov, a late arrival, whose presence will have a destructive effect; Elkin, ex-president of the Kiev CHEKA; and young Rodion, a somewhat naive comrade who struggles to understand the dialectic behind the revolution.
The little town is a strange outpost of the Soviet Union; built on a history of dissent, it still houses Russian Orthodox Old Believers whose faith is an anathema to the Communist authorities. A mixture of old ways and modern attempts at technology exist side by side, and the locals struggle to meet the quotas imposed on them for fishing and the like. The people here are still rooted in the land, and regardless of the political system imposed on them, their lives still go on much as they always have.
The Trust occupied a long, narrow suite of rooms inundated by the ceaseless crackle of typewriters and adding-machines, on the corner of Prison Street over a co-operative full of useless neckties and tooth-powder which people used to whitewash the insides of their houses in the spring.
Against this background, the political exiles struggle to maintain their belief in the revolution despite their betrayal and imprisonment. Items of news are smuggled in from outside; rumours of a Trotskyist organisation are whispered about; and they all try to make sense of what has happened to them and to anticipate the ultimate fate of the revolution (which they still regard as going on). But with spring comes another purge of sorts from the nerve centre of Moscow, and the exiles are arrested and imprisoned. Only Rodion is able to make a bid for freedom – but will he succeed?
Once again, Serge serves up a fascinating novel, peopled with an engaging set of characters, all dealing with their own personal moral crisis. His portrayal of the insidious nature of Soviet rule, and the twists and turns of suspicion, is once again presented convincingly, but that’s less to the forefront in this novel than it was in “Tulayev”. Instead, we see how the revolutionaries are tied to the party despite their resistance to its methods and the way it has developed. The tragedy of the exiles is that they’re unable to free themselves from the revolution they helped bring about despite their criticisms of it; unlike Rodion, they cannot conceive of breaking away and setting up an alternative. But Rodion, younger and less hide-bound by theories and dialectics (which he struggles to understand), can envisage a different revolution and a different party, and this vision enables him to attempt his escape. In the hands of a lesser novelist, these characters could become merely cyphers; but Serge is such a skilful writer that each takes on a distinct and believable life of their own
There is nothing left but our defeat, firmly accepted since it must be. For we can neither separate ourselves from the proletariat, nor disobey the truth, nor ignore the course of history. And for the moment the dialectic of history has placed us under the wheel. Life goes on, thanks to us. The victories will begin again when we are no more.
Serge based the novel on his period of exile in Orenburg on the Ural river, and it’s an eminently readable and beautifully written book that really captures what it must have felt like living in exile. His descriptions of the landscape and the responses of the exiles to the land are evocative, and despite the darkness reaching out from Moscow into the Russian country, the book does end on a small note of hope. However, the power of the written word really cannot be under-estimated; many of Serge’s books which were critical of Stalin and his regime were published while he was in exile and associating with Trotsky. The latter was murdered in Mexico in 1940 by one of Stalin’s agents; Serge’s death in a taxi in Mexico in 1947, apparently from a heart attack, has sometimes been attributed to Stalin as well.
Leon Davidovich Trotsky’s portrait looked right back at them; intelligence and energy were stamped across the forehead; pince-nez glasses; a definitive flash in the eyes… Rhyzik frowned. “The main thing, you see, is that they don’t kill him!”
“Midnight” was translated by Richard Greeman, who provides an excellent introduction and useful notes; and very sweetly, has illustrations by Serge’s son, who was an artist known as Vlady. To be honest, you do need a certain amount of knowledge about and interest in Soviet history to get the most out of Serge’s books, and it may be this that has stopped him being more widely read. That’s a shame, because his novels are shaping up to be some of my favourites and I’m really looking forward to my next read of Victor Serge.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 06:45:59
I have looked at this book many times. The title and cover appeal. Glad to hear it’s a good read. It’ll have to wait because my reading brain is overwhelmed by immediate family crisis, but I will add to my virtual wait list.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 09:00:07
Hope the crisis passes, Joe – sympathies. And yes, when the brain is ready I think you’ll like Serge.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 08:02:18
To be honest, I probably don’t have the depth of understanding of Soviet history to get the most out of Serge’s work, but I do appreciate the review – interesting commentary as ever. As far as Russian lit goes, I’m going to continue with Teffi and Gazdanov (keen to get back to him later in the year). 🙂
Jul 09, 2016 @ 08:58:40
I understand where you’re coming from – I have an interest so I didn’t even need many of the footnotes. But his writing is just so good that I have to keep singing his praises. I’m with you on Teffi and Gazdanov, though – they’re marvellous!
Jul 09, 2016 @ 09:51:38
Midnight in the Century does sound excellent. I am interested in stories of exile and this does sound like a compelling, atmospheric read.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 23:10:38
It is indeed – my brain is still with the characters ages after reading it.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 11:03:47
I don’t think I would have the appropriate background knowledge for this either, but it does sound fascinating.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 23:09:40
It *is* a great read – and even if you don’t have my interest in all things Russian it’s still a great study of human beings in extreme situations.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 11:13:05
What a great read. I dont know if it will fit me since I dont know much about Soviet history. My knowledge is limited to few sentences I have read in fiction books. And my Russian lit is not strong either
Jul 09, 2016 @ 23:08:31
I accept Serge isn’t for everyone – which is a shame in a way because his writing is so good!
Jul 09, 2016 @ 12:03:48
Excellent review, as always 🙂 I have this in the TBR, I’ll need the notes though!
Jul 09, 2016 @ 23:07:47
I think you’ll enjoy it, and the notes are very good!
Jul 09, 2016 @ 14:39:57
As I read your review, I’m tempted by the book as much for what it might inform me about as its insights and beauty. I learn history from biographies, autobiographies and novels.
Jul 09, 2016 @ 23:06:52
The notes *are* very informative – and Serge,s writing is excellent!
Jul 11, 2016 @ 01:37:00
Great review! We keep collecting his books at sales, though neither my husband nor I have read them. Somehow the covers look so depressing I can never face the books. You make me understand Serge’s appeal. Honestly, most of the reviews of his work are so depressing I wonder why anyone woudl read him!
Jul 11, 2016 @ 08:11:48
Glad to hear you’re collecting Serge! Although the subject matter can be dark, the books are not depressing. I think he has a basic faith in humanity that comes through and he does allow hope into his stories.
Jul 19, 2016 @ 09:01:06
How interesting, I haven’t really thought about the people in the communities already when the exiles were sent there.
Jul 19, 2016 @ 09:30:52
No, it’s an element often overlooked. It’s not as though the exiles were sent to uncolonised areas and it must have been quite a shock to the indigenous population to have these dangerous revolutionaries foisted on them!
Aug 25, 2016 @ 15:44:18
Would you suggest reading this before Case Kaggsy?
Aug 25, 2016 @ 15:54:28
I’d say yes. I’ve seen his books described as a “double trilogy” in the order of publication: Men in Prison, Birth of Our Power, Conquered City, Midnight in the Century, The Case of Comrade Tulayev, and Unforgiving Years. I of course have read them completely in the wrong order though I don’t know how crucial it is. There are characters which overlap so I think it makes sense to try to read certainly the last four in order if you can. I haven’t got the first two and I don’t know yet how easily available they are. Good luck! 🙂
Dec 31, 2016 @ 06:44:13
Aug 07, 2019 @ 07:08:26