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The Death of Stalin
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Brief Description
The personal and the political collide in this masterful account of the death of a dictator. When Joseph Stalin died in 1953, he had been the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union for over twenty years, having presided over the ruthless modernisation of the early 1930s,...
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The Death of Stalin
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Description
The personal and the political collide in this masterful account of the death of a dictator.
When Joseph Stalin died in 1953, he had been the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union for over twenty years, having presided over the ruthless modernisation of the early 1930s, the Great Purges later in the decade, the near-catastrophe and ultimate victory of World War II, and the country's postwar emergence as a superpower. He was surrounded by a cult that made him seem godlike; no successors were in sight. His death was bound to be a deeply unsettling event, both in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.
Sheila Fitzpatrick draws on her unparalleled knowledge of Stalin's circle and Soviet society to tell a tale that blends black comedy with forensic analysis, exploring the problems and opportunitiesβoften missedβcreated by the death of the dictator. The final chapter deals with Stalin's eventful afterlife, including his recent resurrection in Putin's Russia. This is both a riveting read and a salutary one.
Wise, comprehensive and brilliantly succinct - Owen Matthews
Fitzpatrick knows more than almost anyone about the Soviet system. - Orlando Figes
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781760645090
Publisher: Black Inc.
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 03 June 2025
Country: Australia
Imprint: Black Inc.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 10.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 133g
Pages: 128
About the Author
Sheila Fitzpatrick is a pioneer in the field of Soviet history. She regularly contributes to the London Review of Books and is the multi-award-winning author of many books, including Everyday Stalinism, On Stalin's Team, The Russian Revolution, White Russians, Red Peril and the bestselling The Shortest History of the Soviet Union.
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