[SMARTY]

No one denies it happened and no one denies it was ghastly. I know from listening to parents and grandparents that it was not a walk in the park.

That is not what we're talking about here.

The whole thing was used to sell Socialism/Communism.

Those things are not the answer.

[OldNavyVet]

Recommended reading... "John Steinbeck, Writer" A biology by Jackson J. Benson: 1116 pages that include Steinbeck's trip to Russia and details as to how he handled the perverse corruption the Soviet Union is noted for; especially there being no paying for his works.

There is no mention, therein, as to any Russian literary award; but great detail as to Russian piracy of his books. A Russian publisher actually told Steinbeck about printing and selling 300,000 copies of "The Winter of Our Discontent" which "sold out in a week." That story is on page 930.

Happy reading!

[VietVet]

” The whole thing was used to sell Socialism/Communism.”

May not have worked so well at that. 40 years ago, a Polish scientist was visiting us. He related a lot of stories about the skepticism of Poles towards Marxism. One was about how the Soviets showed “TGOW” in high schools, as propaganda on how bad life was in the US. What impressed the Polish students was how the downtrodden Americans, when they lost their farm, loaded their belongings into THEIR OWN AUTOMOBILES and set out for California, WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK ANYONE’s PERMISSION.