# Nikolai Avksentiev — Ten Days That Shook the World character guide

> Nikolai Avksentiev in Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Avksentiev

**First appearance:** 0011-i-background

## Snapshot

Socialist Revolutionary leader and chairman of the Pre-Parliament, a man whose moderate socialism is being overtaken by events he cannot control.

## Who they are

Avksentiev presides over the Pre-Parliament, the last institutional attempt to bridge the gap between the Soviet and the Provisional Government. As a Socialist Revolutionary, he represents the peasant majority that both the Bolsheviks and their opponents court, yet his party's influence is crumbling. His position illustrates the tragedy of the moderate socialists, who believed in gradual change only to find themselves squeezed between the Bolsheviks' audacity and the reactionaries' bayonets.

## In the story

### [IV: The Fall of the Provisional Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/iv-the-fall-of-the-provisional-government)

Recognized among the crowd of opposition figures attempting to march to the Winter Palace.

### [XI: The Conquest of Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/xi-the-conquest-of-power)

Avksentiev is referenced as the appointer of delegates from the Peasants' Soviets, which the Bolsheviks reject.

### [XII: The Peasants’ Congress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/xii-the-peasants-congress)

Criticized by Lenin for pulling the people with his little finger, representing the conciliatory wing.

### [Appendix to Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-i)

Listed as a Socialist Revolutionary who joined the coalition ministry in June.

### [The Socialist Ministers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/3-the-socialist-ministers)

Avksentiev is listed as a Socialist Revolutionary participant in the coalition ministry.

### [Appendix to Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-ix)

Avksentiev is also threatened with trial before the Revolutionary Tribunals by the Bolsheviks.

### [Events of the 13th in Petrograd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/2-events-of-the-13th-in-petrograd)

Mentioned as a target of Bolshevik Revolutionary Tribunals.

### [On the Question of an Agreement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/6-on-the-question-of-an-agreement)

His Peasants' Soviets are mentioned as being invited to the garrison meeting.

### [Appeals to the Front Against Dukhonin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/19-appeals-to-the-front-against-dukhonin)

Listed among the former ministers gathering at the Stavka to form a new power against the Soviets.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/characters/avksentiev
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/characters