First published 2003
In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, a ruthless young Bolshevik named Joseph Stalin maneuvers his way to the top of the Soviet hierarchy. As he consolidates power, Stalin's suspicion and thirst for control become all-consuming, leading him to purge rivals, imprison dissidents, and orchestrate mass murders on an unprecedented scale. This definitive biography lays bare the complex web of personal relationships, political intrigue, and brutal tactics that enabled Stalin's merciless reign of terror.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, political-science, soviet-union, russia
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: power-struggle, rise-and-fall
Setting: Soviet Union
Period: 1917-1936, 1925-1953, 1936-1953, 1900-talet, Sovjetunionen
693 pages · Hardcover · Weidenfeld & Nicholson
Content warnings: death, murder, violence