Written by Trotsky from exile in the early 1930s, the book explains the social, economic, and political dynamics of an event that, more than any other, transformed the history of the 20th century.

Written by one of the central leaders of the first socialist revolution, The History of the Russian Revolution details how working people of the town and country organized to topple the tzarist regime in February 1917, and how eight months later they established a government of the toilers, brought an end to Russia's involvement in World War I, and overturned capitalism. It describes the Bolshevik party led by V.I. Lenin and why it was capable of leading this victorious struggle for power. (see excerpts above.)

The English translation of Trotsky's History was first published in 1932. Subsequent printings were produced by photographing the same text and laboriously stripping each page of film into flats. These flats were used to produce plates for the printing press, with a slight decline in quality each time as the film deteriorated.

Now, the text of the book has been entirely reformatted through the digitization process, with an end result of cleaner looking and more easily readable type. Most importantly, when the stock from this printing is sold out it will take considerably less labor to get printing plates back to the presses, using the computer-to-plate machine now installed in Pathfinder's printshop. Readers will also notice the improved cover from the previous edition. It has not been redesigned, but is a higher quality printing resulting from the use of the computer-to-plate technology.

At more than 1,300 pages, the production of Trotsky's History poses a number of challenges for the volunteer workers who staff the printshop. In order to keep the book in one volume, it has to be printed on paper too thin to be run on the sheetfed presses and folded in the bindery, which is how other Pathfinder books are produced. As in previous printings, the text was produced instead on the web press, used to print the Militant every week.

The sheetfed presses are designed for higher quality printing than the web, so web operators paid a lot of attention to the press run to make sure the final product would meet Pathfinder's standards. Operators discussed the experience in all aspects of production of earlier printings by previous crews, which made it possible to avoid or resolve a number of problems and challenges. This in turn facilitated more efficient finishing of the book in the bindery.

Printshop worker Aaron Armstrong was assigned to organize the collation of the book before binding, a more complicated task than usual. "This is one of the most difficult Pathfinder books to produce, but the final product is beautiful; it's much easier to read. The volunteers did a wonderful job, and they insured that this book will be in print for new generations."

Peter Thierjung, the lead binder operator in the printshop, said the previous printing of The History of the Russian Revolution was more difficult to produce. "Last time the binder was maxxed out, a number of parts broke during the run, and we had to call mechanics for suggestions on how to get the book out. This time the book is slightly thinner, which is better for the machine, and the run went very smoothly. The improved binding means a more durable book."

Thierjung set up and ran the job along with Amanda Ulman, a binder trainee, which was an important step toward her qualifying as an operator. Another trainee was part of the crew on the three-knife trimmer used to finish the book.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution and the new printing of Trotsky's History, Pathfinder is offering the book at a special price of $25 for members of the Pathfinder Readers Club through the end of the year.

Ryan Lewis is a member of the Young Socialists and the head operator on the web press in Pathfinder's printshop.  
 
 
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