In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee gives some more context to Alexandra Kollontai's life by reading from the texts of two women who knew her personally: the American Louise Bryant and the Spaniard Isabel de Palencia. Based on her personal meeting with Kollontai in the early years of the revolution, Louise Bryant wrote about Kollontai in her 1918 book, Six Red Months in Russia, and in her 1923 book, Mirrors of Moscow. Isabel de Palencia knew Kollontai in Stockholm where they were both diplomats in the 1930s. Her book, Alexandra Kollontay: Ambasadress from Russia, was published in English in 1947 and is based on both Palencia's personal memories of Kollontai as well as interviews with Kollontai's friends and colleagues.

From these two texts we get a sense that Kollontai deeply impressed her female comrades with her charm, charisma, beauty, and fashion sense as well as her exceptional work ethic, oratory skills, diplomatic tact, and perseverance in the face of adversity. 

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Kristen R. Ghodsee is the award-winning author of twelve books and Professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Check out Kristen Ghodsee's recent books:

• Everyday Utopia
• Red Valkyries
• Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism
• Second World, Second Sex

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Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work: www.kristenghodsee.com or request to follow her on Instagram @prof_kristen