# Alexander Kerensky — Ten Days That Shook the World character guide > Alexander Kerensky in Ten Days That Shook the World by John Reed. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Kerensky, Premier Kerensky, Citizen Kerensky, Mr. Kerensky, Alexander Feodorvitch Kerensky, Alexander Feodorvitch **First appearance:** 0011-i-background ## Snapshot The Provisional Government's Minister-president, he is a man already half-ghost in his own palace, borrowing gasoline for his car while the Bolsheviki close in. ## Who they are Reed finds Kerensky's headquarters stripped of tapestries, guarded by a nervous young officer who admits the Premier is not there and has gone to the Front. Inside, yunkers lounge on dirty mattresses among empty bottles with expensive French labels, machine-guns mounted on the windowsills of the Winter Palace's historic salons. Kerensky's weakness is not villainy but evaporation: the legal Government he leads is dissolving into a barrack, and his authority depends on troops who are already bored, drinking, and waiting to see who arrives first. ## In the story ### [Political Parties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/political-parties) Listed as a leader of the Socialist Revolutionary party and former leader of the Trudoviki. ### [Other Organisations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/other-organisations) Kerensky formed the Death Battalions in the summer of 1917 to strengthen army discipline. ### [Ten Days That Shook the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/ten-days-that-shook-the-world) Head of the Provisional Government, fled Petrograd during the coup. ### [Background](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/i-background) Premier of the Provisional Government; criticized for coalition with propertied classes and repressive policies. ### [II: The Coming Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/ii-the-coming-storm) Premier who threatened resignation to force coalition with the Cadets, seen as a shield for landowners. ### [III: On the Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/iii-on-the-eve) Publicly denies government plans to abandon Petrograd, but is met with derision. ### [The Committee for Salvation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/vi-the-committee-for-salvation) Issues orders from Gatchina as Minister-President and Supreme Commander, calling for loyal troops to advance. ### [IX: Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/ix-victory) Flees Gatchina after his counteroffensive fails, disguised as a sailor, losing popular support. ### [Appendix to Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-ii) Referenced as head of the Government and as being influenced by the Zimmerwald Manifesto. ### [Chapter 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1) Discussed as Prime Minister and Minister of War, with responsibility for the situation that led to Kornilov's revolt; apologists suggest he knew of Kornilov's plans and drew him out prematurely. ### [Democratic Conference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/2-democratic-conference) Proposed the Democratic Conference and agreed to the Soviet's representation table after initial disagreement. ### [Trotsky’s Speech at the Council of the Russian Republic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/4-trotsky-s-speech-at-the-council-of-the-russian-republic) Accused of deals with the Cadets and counterrevolutionary policies, including planning to abandon Petrograd. ### [The British Fleet (etc.)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/9-the-british-fleet-etc) Mentioned in relation to an interview regarding the British Fleet's abandonment of the Baltic. ### [Appeals Against Insurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/10-appeals-against-insurrection) Implied as the head of the Provisional Government that the appeals seek to protect from insurrection. ### [Lenin's "Letter to the Comrades"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/11-lenin-s-letter-to-the-comrades) Head of the Provisional Government, accused of potentially surrendering Petrograd. ### [Miliukov's Speech (Resumé)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/12-miliukov-s-speech-resum) Miliukov claims that even Kerensky has not escaped the influence of the Zimmerwald Manifesto. ### [Interview with Kerensky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/13-interview-with-kerensky) Gives an interview defending the Revolution and criticizing the Allies, later censored by his secretary. ### [Appendix to Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-iii) Referenced in the French newspaper article as leading a government that 'discusses and hesitates'. ### [5: Were the Bolsheviki Conspirators?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/5-were-the-bolsheviki-conspirators) Mentioned as the head of a government that discusses and hesitates. ### [Appendix to Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-iv) Flees Petrograd on November 7th, appeals to Cossacks at Ostrov, and later seeks support from the Southwest Front and Stavka, but is largely rebuffed. ### [Events of November 7th](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-events-of-november-7th) As head of the Provisional Government, Kerensky futilely orders troops and bridges opened, then leaves for the front. ### [Kerensky in Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/2-kerensky-in-flight) Flees Petrograd and appeals to Cossacks and soldiers for support against the Bolsheviks, but faces protests and near-arrest. ### [Appendix to Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-v) Mentioned as the head of the overthrown government in the Military Revolutionary Committee's proclamation. ### [Appeals and Proclamations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-appeals-and-proclamations) His government is declared overthrown by the Military Revolutionary Committee. ### [Appendix to Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-vi) Denounced by Pravda as a usurper, traitor, and 'second Kornilov'. ### [Appeals and Denunciations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-appeals-and-denunciations) Denounced by the Bolsheviks as a usurper, criminal, and traitor, compared to Kornilov. ### [Appendix to Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-viii) Led a Cossack advance on Petrograd, arriving at Gatchina on November 9th, but faced desertions and indecision. ### [Kerensky's Advance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-kerensky-s-advance) Leads the Cossack advance on Petrograd, arrives at Gatchina, and is indecisive about negotiations. ### [Proclamations of the Military Revolutionary Committee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/2-proclamations-of-the-military-revolutionary-committee) Denounced as the overthrown ex-Premier who fled Petrograd, abandoned authority to Kishkin, and now leads a counterrevolutionary march with Cossacks. ### [Appendix to Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/appendix-to-chapter-ix) Kerensky leads the counteroffensive against the Bolsheviks, but his troops are defeated and he is forced to flee after being arrested by his own men. ### [Military Revolutionary Committee. Bulletin No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/1-military-revolutionary-committee-bulletin-no-2) Kerensky proposed a surrender to revolutionary troops and opened artillery fire; order given for his arrest. ### [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) Target of proposed arrest by the delegates sent to the front. ### [Events at Tsarskoye Selo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/4-events-at-tsarskoye-selo) His troops retreated from Tsarskoye Selo. ### [5: Appeal of the Soviet Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/chapters/5-appeal-of-the-soviet-government) Fled after his counterrevolutionary campaign failed; troops at Gatchina laid down arms and decided to arrest him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ten_days_that_shook_the_world_se/characters/kerensky - 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