Profiles in Power: Stalin
16 Nov 05

Stalin’s tyrannical rule of the Soviet Union was one of the bloodiest episodes in the modern history of the world. How did such a man, once regarded by his rivals as intellectually inferior, manage to rise to power, ruling the largest country in the world for more than a quarter of a century and, ultimately, achieving a divine status as dictator?

This biography focuses on Stalin’s political life and his lust for power. It untangles the enigmatic and extraordinary life of Stalin, explaining why and how he became one of the most powerful Communist leaders of his time.

Through recently uncovered research material from Stalin’s archives in Moscow , Kuromiya analyses how and why Stalin was a rare, even unique, politician who literally lived by politics alone.  Devoid of any sentimentality, he subordinated his entire life to political ends and his quest for power.

Kuromiya analyses how Stalin understood psychology and used this knowledge in his political reign. He lucidly and systematically explains Stalin’s view of political terror, why he used it so extensively, and how he felt about the deaths of millions.

 The world order changed irreversibly with the establishment of the Soviet Union . Kuromiya argues that without understanding Stalin, one cannot understand the twentieth century.

	Profiles in Power: Stalin
	Author	Hiroaki Kuromiya
	Pub Date	10 November 2005
	Price	£14.99
	Publisher	Longman
	ISBN	0582784794
		Click here for further information or to purchase Profiles in Power: Stalin.

To view our latest news releases, please click here.