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Synopsis
A compelling new biography of the Soviet leader draws on research into previously unavailable archives, recently revealed evidence, and personal experiences during and after the Stalin regime to refute commonly held myths, inaccuracies, and misconceptions about Stalin's life, political career, death, and influence. 25,000 first printing.
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About the Author
Roy Medvedev is the historian whose monumental Let History Judge was the first major insider account by a prominent Soviet dissident. He lives in Moscow.
Zhores Medvedev is the author of The Legacy of Chernobyl, among other books of Russian political commentary. He has lived in London since his exile from the Soviet Union in 1973.
From Publishers Weekly
Except for Hitler, perhaps no 20th-century historical figure has more speculation swirling about him than Stalin. But this work by two former Soviet dissidents only partially clears the mist. The work is no chronological biography; instead, it is organized thematically, making it difficult for those unfamiliar with the issues. Another of the book's weaknesses is that some of the legends the authors debunk, such as the charge that Stalin was poisoned, are not widely believed in the West. Despite these flaws, there's a lot of fascinating material. Not surprisingly, since Zhores Medvedev (The Legacy of Chernobyl) is a former Soviet scientist, much of it has to do with Stalin's attitude toward science. The authors (Roy wrote Let History Judge) show how Stalin was at heart a scientific totalitarian-he was willing to modify his view of science if it served his purposes, but unwilling to open up science to outside forces. Instead, as he did in other aspects of Soviet life, Stalin changed his views on science to purge political opponents who might threaten his power base. The authors also detail a little-known nuclear accident in 1951, arguing convincingly that the toll from the accident at Chelyabinsk-40 (the actual number of whose victims is still unknown) was made worse because the officials chose a "course of action that would demand considerable human sacrifice." As others have emphasized, human sacrifice was the norm during the Stalinist era. But there's not enough new here to attract those who are not scholars or those already intrigued by Stalin's life.
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- PublisherAbrams Press
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 1585675024
- ISBN 13 9781585675029
- BindingHardcover
- LanguageEnglish
- Edition number1
- Number of pages336
- Rating
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Unknown Stalin
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Unknown Stalin
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Hardcover. Condition: Good. A compelling new biography of the Soviet leader draws on research into previously unavailable archives, recently revealed evidence, and personal experiences during and after the Stalin regime to refute commonly held myths, inaccuracies, and misconceptions about Stalin's life, political career, death, and influence. 25,000 first printing. Seller Inventory # SONG1585675024
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The Unknown Stalin: His Life, Death, and Legacy
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THE UNKNOWN STALIN: His Life, Death, And Legacy. Translated By Ellen Dahrendorf
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black hardcover 8vo. (octavo). dustwrapper in protective plastic book jacket cover. remainder copy in fine cond. binding square & tight. covers clean. black ink dot on bottom edge, other edges clean. contents free of markings. dustwrapper in fine cond. not worn or torn or price clipped. nice clean remainder copy. no library markings, store stamps, stickers, bookplates, no names, inking, underlining. first edition. first printing (#1 in # line). 335p. notes. glossary. index. biography. russian history. soviet union. world war ii. atomic gulag. military history. lysenko. bukharin. ~ Providing the best and most informative explanation to date of the mystery of Joseph Stalin's death, renowned historians Roy and Zhores Medvedev have written a gripping new biography of Stalin, based on findings from research into archives only recently made available, as well as the brothers' own experiences during and after Stalin's brutal regime. The result of nearly forty years of study, The Unknown Stalin takes a central place in the canon of Soviet historiography published since Stalin's death in 1953, contradicting and disproving conventional beliefs and cllches, correcting inaccuracies and misconceptions, and fully examining the facts concerning the dictator's intellect, ancestry, and what happened to the fortunes of his personal effects after his death. Each chapter covers events and developments either unknown or distorted in previous books. Perhaps most remarkable are the Medvedevs revelations and contentions concerning Stalin's last days: there has been much suspicion over whether he was assassinated or died of natural causes, and the authors range far and deep toward resolving this question. The Unknown Stalin resonates with particular intensity due to the personal detail and recollections of the two authors~each of whom has his own history as a Russian dissident and commentator. This startling new work represents the most valuable contribution to the study of Russian history in decades, a book of vital interest to historians and general readers. Seller Inventory # 8052302
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