This excellent work by independent scholar and historian Smele offers readers close to 2,000 cross-referenced entries that note individuals as well as government, military, political, religious, media, and various social and arts institutions that played roles in the momentous struggle to destroy the Russian monarchy. The dictionary begins with the author's 60-page essay, which introduces readers to the events that culminated in the civil wars after the fall of the Russian Empire. Readers will acknowledge this was not merely a conflict between the Communist Red Army and the so-called Russian White Army but also a struggle among numerous regional factions and with military interventions from other countries. Included in this two-volume work are three detailed appendixes listing governing institutions, a glossary, and a 40-page bibliography that itself makes this work a major resource for serious researchers, students, and those with a keen interest in Russian-Soviet history. The work's clarity and organization justify its inclusion as a core reference resource in all academic libraries in which the study of Russian history or historic conflicts is part of the curriculum as well as in public libraries maintaining collections in world history.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic levels; general readers; professionals/practitioners.