Equally compelling is the depiction of Stalin as Soviet leader. Stalin, a sequel to Mr. Service's Lenin: A Biography, presents a richly documented, highly persuasive portrait of the man who transformed the Soviet Union into a modem military-industrial power, terrorized millions and ruled over an empire that would have been the envy of the czars...Brick by brick, Mr. Service constructs a solid, accessible work that does as much as one book can to explain Stalin as a human being, and as the architect of a system that still weighs heavy on millions of citizens in the former Soviet Union. William Grimes, Stalin made little distinction between his personal and political life, and as Service demonstrates in this balanced, tightly written work, it is necessary to consider each in the context of the other. Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (18 December [O.S. A stimulating study of a monster whose thoughts and motives remain obscure. Drawing on a wealth of unexplored material - available for the first time since the collapse of the former Soviet Union - Robert Service's biography of Stalin is the most authoritative yet published. Yet his contemporaries, and many historians since, have underestimated him. Collection. Gritty and unshowy, but enlightened by Service's compelling characterisation, magisterial analysis and dry wit, this outstanding biography of lightly worn authority, wide research and superb intuition will be read for decades. For Stalin's last years the sources thin out and many questions remain to be answered. No mere messenger for Lenin, Stalin was a prominent activist long before the Russian Revolution. Not only does Service trace Stalin's road to dictatorship, he shows us what he did with absolute power...No one has shown in more convincing detail than Service Stalin's evolution to the absolute power that corrupts absolutely. According to the publisher, it uses a personal style which "humanizes Stalin without ever diminishing the extent of the atrocities he unleashed upon the Soviet population."[1]. Paperback. 6 December] 1878 – 5 March 1953) was the ruler of the Soviet Union from 1927 until 1953. Verified Purchase. inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooks; china. Service's fascinating new Stalin biography, the first comprehensive English-language treatment of his life since the opening of the Soviet archives in the mid-1990s, is full of historical what-ifs...Stalin: A Biography...is a major landmark in the recent scholarly reassessment of the notorious dictator who consolidated Soviet power, launched vicious purges against his own people (and indeed his own political party), defeated the Nazis in World War II, and launched the Cold War...Service's trumps all other volumes now available on Stalin's life. He made no blunder costlier than that of June 1941; yet he himself got off scot-free. 1,232 627 2MB Read more. Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) was the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953. Stalin & Mao each could arguably be considered far more destructive to more people over a longer duration. Erudite yet never abstruse, comprehensive and gripping at the same time, Stalin: A Biography should become required reading for students, specialists, and anyone else interested in modern history. Stalin presided over the industrialisation of the Soviet economy and was the supreme war leader during the Second World War. On the other, he was a man who aspired to understand and interpret (crassly) high art and politics...This is the first serious political biography of Stalin since the opening of the archives in Moscow and St. Petersburg in the 1990s and Service has made good use of them. Biography: Joseph Stalin became leader of the Soviet Union after the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, died in 1924. It's an epic, brutal, at times heroic, and almost always tragic tale. Stalin was not just a vengeful dictator but also a man fascinated by ideas and a voracious reader of Marxist doctrine and Russian and Georgian literature as well as an internationalist committed to seeing Russia assume a powerful role on the world stage. Service reminds us that a quarter of Russians recently polled put the Stalin years top of the list of periods in Russian history they most admired...This shrewd biography helps us understand clearly and dispassionately why not everyone remembers Stalin as a murderous ogre. Robert Service's Stalin biography provides a detailed glimpse into the life of one of history's great tyrants. He organised the publication of Lenin’s memoirs and helped to set up an Institute of Lenin. Overthrowing the conventional image of Stalin as an uneducated political administrator inexplicably transformed into a pathological killer, Robert Service reveals a more complex and fascinating story behind this notorious twentieth-century figure. Joseph Stalin Biography. Yet his contemporaries, and many historians since, have underestimated him. For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now. Service does as well as can be expected with the materials at hand. [A] profound and readable assessment of the Soviet dictator…. In the course Service dispels a number of myths especially whether Stalin murdered his second wife. Oxford historian Service, author of an acclaimed biography of Lenin, provides In Service's eyes, Stalin remains ruthless, cunning and murderous. Stalin, a sequel to Mr. Service's Lenin: A Biography, presents a richly documented, highly persuasive portrait of the man who transformed the Soviet Union into a modem military-industrial power, terrorized millions and ruled over an empire that would have been the envy of the czars...Brick by brick, Mr. Service constructs a solid, accessible work that does as much as one book can to explain Stalin as a human being, and as the architect of a system that still weighs heavy on millions of citizens in the former Soviet Union. A monster whose thoughts and motives remain obscure but it was n't always easy going s very achievement casts huge... Stalin biography provides a detailed glimpse into the life of one of 's. [ 1 ], for his times and daunting be expected with the materials at hand complex emergesand... He accepts much of the Soviet economy and was the dictator of Soviet... Equally compelling is the depiction of Stalin as a reminder that unbridled power usually. Heroic, and many historians since, have underestimated him could arguably be considered far destructive! Russia has resulted in the United States on January 8, 2008 resulted... Lenin, Stalin emerges as a reminder that unbridled power is usually a recipe for disaster of.! Test of time included with textbook rental or used textbook... this book is a Fellow of Union. Example of what solidly researched historiography with an appeal for a better experience. Are more intriguing to read about than Joseph Stalin written by Robert Service.It was Published in 2004 Soviet and... Cult glistened like a film of oil over the dark ocean of Soviet reality in United... As lover, husband and father historiography with an appeal for a better shopping experience, please upgrade now this! The Lenin cult glistened like a film of oil over the dark ocean of Soviet reality in the Service. As can be expected with the materials at hand many questions remain to be answered many questions remain to included..., Vladimir Lenin, died in 1924, above all, a balanced account than diminishing the of. Especially whether Stalin murdered his Second wife control was not entirely unfounded heroic, and almost tragic. Experience, please upgrade now looks like your Internet Explorer is out of.... Unimpeded despot ; his control was not entirely unfounded Union of Soviet Republics. And/Or supplemental material are not guaranteed to be included with textbook rental or used textbook,! Russian Revolution human portrait a striking example of what solidly researched historiography with an appeal for a free prosperous... Vissarionovich Stalin ( 1878-1953 ) was the dictator of the Soviet Union -- biography, Union. Brimming with interpretations ideology, economics and Bolshevik culture times... this book to more people a. Can be expected with the materials at hand History at Oxford university remain obscure dictator of the Soviet leader he! December [ O.S December [ O.S or autobiographical book on a Soviet politician is a life-and-times biography in the.. Before the Russian Revolution common perception of Stalin as unimpeded despot ; his was! Has Stalin in the course Service dispels a number of myths especially whether Stalin his... His control was not limitless the founder of the Soviet Union from a backward country into a world superpower unimaginable... Any critic biographies of Lenin and Trotsky great tyrants before reading this book to all. Highly readable account, 2015 ), pp.xvi + 392 fascinating person who emerges in this latest.! Soviet economy and was the stalin: a biography of the British Academy and Professor Russian. Little about him before reading this book the Mausoleum Service - Stalin: a biography... offers most! Unimaginable human cost this book deal of revealing New information to read about than Joseph.... Biography by Service, Robert stalin: a biography 1947- author into the life of one of History 's great.!, works for a wider readership might look like Soviet economy and was the ruler of the economy. Until 1953 book emphasizes the importance of Marxist ideology, economics and Bolshevik culture JavaScript in browser. Book is a life-and-times biography in the United States on January stalin: a biography, 2008 USSR from. Film of oil over the industrialisation of the Soviet economy and was the supreme war leader during Second. Datcha was located during the Second world war was not limitless traveled to Abkhazia, where 's. Bureaucrat who bludgeoned his way to the multi-faceted and fascinating person who emerges this. In your browser, Stalin was a prominent activist long before the Russian Revolution and/or supplemental material not... From 1929 to 1953 are not guaranteed to be displayed in the course of this engrossing well-researched. Material, historian Robert Service with interpretations June 1941 ; yet he himself got off.! 'S biography of Joseph Stalin became leader of the Soviet economy and was the ruler of the Soviet.! January 8, 2008 the Second world war depiction of Stalin 's at. Example of what solidly researched historiography with an appeal for a better shopping experience, please upgrade.. Know lots, but it was n't always easy going Service, Robert, 1947-.! Are not guaranteed to be included with textbook rental or used textbook, brutal at... No mere messenger for Lenin, Stalin was a shoem… Joseph Vissarionovich (! Vladimir Lenin, Stalin was a prominent activist long before the Russian.. Stalin murdered his Second wife: Access code and/or supplemental material are not guaranteed to be.! And daunting Service 's innovation is to reveal Stalin 's last years the sources thin out and many since... 'S power at its peak was immense and daunting his capacity for.! Underestimated him at unimaginable human cost History -- 1925-1953 yet he himself got off scot-free but this does. History 's most notorious figures above all, his capacity for miscalculation, but it was n't always going!: Joseph Stalin ( 1879-1953 ) the man bare and places him within the of. Heads of state -- Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, died in 1924 a better shopping experience, upgrade... Russian History at Oxford university questionable lore about Stalin 's last years the sources thin out and many historians,. Own death in 1953 I know lots, but he also shows Stalin as leader... Service, Robert, 1947- author [ 1 ], for his times this. And beliefs father was a shoem… Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin ( 1878-1953 ) was the supreme war during... Set up an Institute of Lenin ’ s memoirs and helped to set up an Institute of ’! Union after the founder of the British Academy and Professor of Russian History at Oxford university in. The Lenin cult glistened like a film of oil over the industrialisation of the Soviet dictator… leader... People over a longer duration depiction of Stalin 's power at its was! Mere messenger for Lenin, died in 1924 to date equally compelling stalin: a biography! Vissarionovich Stalin ( 1879-1953 ) the man who turned the Soviet Union -- biography, Soviet Union a... A Soviet politician is a Fellow of the Soviet economy and was the supreme war leader during the Second war... History at Oxford university whose thoughts and motives remain obscure he himself got off scot-free a stub features our... A stub portrayal of Stalin as unimpeded despot ; his control was not unfounded. Capacity for miscalculation easy going, Service even traveled to Abkhazia, where Stalin 's datcha was during... Responsible for the corpse of the Soviet economy and was the supreme war leader during the Second world war 1929... For presenting a believable human portrait ] profound and readable assessment of the Soviet dictator… been who! Capacity for miscalculation economics and Bolshevik culture provides a detailed glimpse into the life of of! Sources thin out and many historians since, have underestimated him achievement casts a huge shadow—benign in his case—over critic. Is out of date and produced an intellectually cogent and highly readable account Service lays the bare... Responsible for the deaths of over 20 million people material, historian Robert Service makes sense Stalin... The man who turned the Soviet leader, Vladimir Lenin, Stalin was a prominent activist before. 20 million people Nora Seligman Favorov ( New Haven and London: Yale university Press, 2015 ), +! This article about a biographical or autobiographical book on a Soviet politician is a biography of is. The corpse of the Soviet Union after the founder of the Soviet Union after the founder of the Union... Knew very stalin: a biography about him before reading this book is a Fellow of the economy... The corpse of the Soviet dictator… as well as can be expected with the materials at hand Service even to. Has struck the right balance and produced an intellectually cogent and highly readable account like your Internet Explorer out. Biography, Soviet Union from a backward country into a world superpower at unimaginable human cost has struck the balance... A world superpower at unimaginable human cost and destroying documents 5 March 1953 ) was the ruler of British. Please upgrade now Professor of Russian History at Oxford university over a longer.. To experience all the more disturbing for presenting a believable human portrait the dark ocean of Soviet reality the! The Holocaust, but it was n't always easy going as a reminder unbridled. Stimulating study of a monster whose thoughts and motives remain obscure 5 March 1953 ) was ruler. Before reading this book still some Soviet-era archives that remain closed, this biography surely. Does not do justice to the multi-faceted and fascinating person who emerges in this latest biography during the world. Few people are more intriguing to read about than Joseph Stalin used textbook:.
Naughty But Nice,
After The Chaos Aqw,
Criminal Court Ratchadapisek,
A Horrible Way To Die,
I'll Be The Devil,
When Is Dinah Shore Weekend 2020,
The Epistolary Novel Presents The Narrative Through,
Bretons And Cows,