The Secret City
What is The Secret City about?
The Secret City (1919) is Hugh Walpole’s James Tait Black Prize-winning sequel to The Dark Forest, set in Petrograd during the Russian Revolution of 1917. The novel follows English characters living in Russia as the old order collapses around them, witnessing the February and October Revolutions firsthand. Walpole captures the confusion, hope, violence, and transformation of revolutionary Russia through intimate personal dramas set against vast historical upheaval. Based on the author’s own presence in Russia during the Revolution, it is a remarkable eyewitness account in fictional form.
Main themes in The Secret City
Russian Revolution
The Secret City thoughtfully explores russian revolution through its central conflicts.
Petrograd
In The Secret City, petrograd provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
WWI aftermath
WWI aftermath emerges as a defining element in The Secret City, shaping character development.
James Tait Black Prize
The presence of james tait black prize in The Secret City connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Why The Secret City is still relevant today
The Secret City won the James Tait Black Prize and offers a rare English-language eyewitness perspective of the Russian Revolution. Its personal scale makes vast historical events immediate and human.
More by this author
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Secret City about?
English characters in Petrograd witness the Russian Revolution of 1917 firsthand, in this prize-winning novel based on Walpole’s own experience.
Did it win awards?
Yes, it won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1919.
Do I need to read The Dark Forest first?
It helps for character background, but The Secret City can be read as a standalone.
Can I read it free online?
Yes, the complete novel is available free on TextStack.