Readings at entertainments for the poor got up by philanthropic people may only be given from books licensed by the police for the purpose (and mostly very dull); the catalogues of lending libraries may contain only such books as are definitely permitted, many being excluded that are not forbidden to private persons—though the latter, again, are by no means free to choose their reading, many authors being entirely prohibited within the empire; and whole columns of newspapers, including foreign ones that have come through the post, are blacked out by order of the censor. Private debating societies’ meetings or lectures, however innocent, are practically impossible to all who are not in the best odour with the authorities, except under the strictest precautions against discovery—such as closing of shutters, disguise of preparations, and a warning to guests not to arrive simultaneously. It is evident what opportunity all this gives to officials “on the make” for demonstrating their zeal, and it accounts for the fact that every year hundreds of persons not accused of any definite offence are removed from their homes. Nearly everyone has friends and relations so banished, and the result of such systematic interference with private liberty is that almost everyone in Russia, outside official circles, is more or less in league against the bureaucratic government. The countenance, and even financial support, afforded to the revolutionists, not only by sympathisers in free countries, but by the general public at home, is one great source of their strength. They are willingly assisted in evading arrest and in escaping from prison or from exile; and prohibited literature (printed abroad, or secretly in Russia itself) is circulated and sold throughout the country in immense quantities—not only leaflets by the thousand, but reviews, some elaborately illustrated, and even books of a more solid character. The Russian original of the present work will presumably soon be on the “illegal” market. The illustrations are reproductions of photographs taken from life. H. C. LONDON, _July, 1903_. CONTENTS TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE _Pages_ v-xii CHAPTER I Journey to Germany—Imprisonment in Freiburg—Episodes from 1-11 the past of the Revolutionary movement CHAPTER II The cause of my arrest—Professor Thun—My defence—Plans of 12-20 escape—My legal adviser CHAPTER III Uncertainty—Prison life—The Public Prosecutor—A change of 21-29 cells CHAPTER IV The visit of “my wife”—More plans of escape—The Public 30-41 Prosecutor shows his hand—reparations for a journey