Stalin : The First In-depth Biography Based on Explosive New Documents from Russia'sSecret Archives

Rating:
Summary: Fabulously written, the truth as it was.
Review: Mr. Radzinsky's tale is captivating beyond words. This is a must read for Stalin or Russia enthusiasts. It is excellent for the non enthusiast as well, fore it portrays our ally in WWII and the death machine that would kill numbers that would pail Hilter's atrocities.

Rating:
Summary: Garbage
Review: ...Stalin, certainly no great guy and a butcher, was not responsible for every evil committed in the USSR. The horrors of his regime and the USSR were more than just one guy, one guy that is easily blamed for everything today. Unfortunately our modern society wants to find pat answers to complex questions, and this book provides those in a cheap fashion. History is not written by inuendo and rumor, and that is what drives this book. The only reason I give a 2 instead of 1 (or zero) is because the book does have several excellent photos inside.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing account of the inner workings of totalitarianism.
Review: This is a fantastic book that walks you through the nature and development of the REAL 1984. Radzinsky is a fantastic writer and describes how Stalin was able to construct and dominate the soviet state and turn it into an almost surreal hell of intrigue, paranoia and terror. To really understand how the Soviet Union operated under Stalin you must understand one of Stalin's favorite Trotsky quotes: "Terror is the tool that turns capitalist man into communist man".

Rating:
Summary: A plebeian, sensationalist treatment of a serious subject
Review: Josef Stalin was a complicated character, and Edvard Radzhinsky wrote an uncomplicated book about him. Radzhinsky sensationalizes all of the old stories, repackages them with the imprint of the Soviet archives, and opens up his huckster table. This book is fine for the ideologue, since all he'll use it for is to line his bookshelf. For serious scholars, read the text closely if studying Stalinist hagiography. Otherwise workaday.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good,with a couple of minor flaws
Review: This volume contains much new data and for that alone it is worth reading.The author captures the horror and senseless nature of Stalin's purges in a dramatic fashion.But the book takes too long to get going and seems to ramble on a bit.These are,however,minor flaws that can will be overcome if you are genuinely interested in the riveting subject matter.All in all it is worth your time

Rating:
Summary: Radzinsky's access to the Archives is used to the fullest.
Review: Undoubtedly, the most indepth book concerning the most controversial despot. Radzinsky, given access to the Presidential Archives, uses them to the fullest. Surpassing even Medvedev's "Let History Judge," Radzinsky is one of few writers that dare propose the volitile question, "Was Stalin an agent provocatuer?" Radzinsky gives us further evidence that he was, and that he even Lenin knew of Koba's double-dealing. There have been hundreds of books writtin about this man, more so than even his protege, Lenin, but Radzinsky completes the picture of a man whose portrait will forever be painted in blood.
Alan Wayne Budai

Rating:
Summary: Flows like a Dream.
Review: This is great history. I could not put it down but I gave it four stars because I did not feel it was in the same class as Simon Sebag Montefiore's "Stalin: In the Court of the Red Tsar." Radzinsky in no way compiles the same type of comprehensive narrative as does Montefiore but it is very much worth your time. The archival evidence he uses is excellent and this is particularly true for someone who went to school (as I did) before the fall of communism. His best nugget involved Mikhail Bulgakov accidentally hanging up the phone on Stalin who assumed that he was the recipient of an April's Fool joke (p.262). Stalin, the sphinx, actually got Bulgakov a job at the Moscow Arts Theatre. The inconsistencies of the General Secretary's personality are clearly displayed by the author in this 1996 effort.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read but some to be taken with a grain of salt
Review: Great book. A little hard to follow all the names but you get a good overall view of a monster. Unbelievable, truth can really be stranger than fiction. Some aspects seemm a little exagerated keep in mind the author's father was persecuted. Not exactly the most objective biography but overall very fascinating

Rating:
Summary: Great Biography
Review: Mr. Radzinsky wrote a biography that is not your typical BORING biography. It could be considered a drama, but the scary part is Stalin was very real and was extremely evil. He uses Stalin to describe evil in its true nature. To understand it you have to read his book. It is one of the best books ever written. I recommend this book even though I believe he would have to be in the top 3 of the most evil people to ever walk our earth.

Rating:
Summary: Flows like a Dream.
Review: This is great history. I could not put it down but I gave it four stars because I did not feel it was in the same class as Simon Sebag Montefiore's "Stalin: In the Court of the Red Tsar." Radzinsky in no way compiles the same type of comprehensive narrative as does Montefiore but it is very much worth your time. The archival evidence he uses is excellent and this is particularly true for someone who went to school (as I did) before the fall of communism. His best nugget involved Mikhail Bulgakov accidentally hanging up the phone on Stalin who assumed that he was the recipient of an April's Fool joke (p.262). Stalin, the sphinx, actually got Bulgakov a job at the Moscow Arts Theatre. The inconsistencies of the General Secretary's personality are clearly displayed by the author in this 1996 effort.