The Unknown Stalin: His Life, Death, and Legacy - Softcover

Medvedev, Zhores; Medvedev, Roy

3.77

65 ratings by Goodreads

9781585676446: The Unknown Stalin: His Life, Death, and Legacy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1585676446 ISBN 13: 9781585676446

Publisher: Abrams Press, 2005

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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. Reprint.

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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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