A series of essays, written during the 1930’s
and 1940’s, and published soon after.
I haven't seen this book before, I was
intrigues, about how I had missed it
in the library.
I read the chapters about the Collective
Farm, and found, strangely, absolutely no
mention of Holodomor. Yesterday, I read
more, there is an essay about the Peasant
in Famine, referring to methods of production,
shortages, in the 1930’s, and in the earlier
famine of the late 1920’s. Holodomor refers
only to the 1930’s. The famines of the 1920’s, and
later in the 1940’s, are also recognised, by
the National Museum « Holodomor victims
Memorial » in Kyiv. The two, have been
separated from Holodomor, because of other
factors involved in ther (the earlier and
lacter famines) spread, world wars, weather,
and harvests.
Sir John Maynard, travelled to Ukraine, and
in one chapter, actively denies knowledge
of Holodomor, or the shortages as they
were then, Holodomor was names as
such, much later, in the 1980’s. I have
found reports, and original material online,
published by investigating commissions in
Ukraine.
Like Walter Duranty, a US reporter working
in Ukraine and the Soviet Union in the 1930’s,
the author was shown, or given, a
description or rural Ukraine by the authories,
ro report home. Later, called lies, the
Welsh reporter, Gareth Jones, also travelled,
and revealed a - more accurate portrayal of
the countryside. He did report Holodomor,
and died, in mysterious circumstances, some
years layer. Malcolm Muggeridge, for the
BBC, also contested Duranty’s reports,
branding him a liar. This book suddenly
feels more sinister. The refusal, and
complete absense, to begin with, a part of
history missing. Followed by a short
paragraph, stating no knowledge of
anything to call famine.