I'm currently reading "Stalin - Court of the Red Tsar", by Simon Sebag Montefior. Its a look at Stalin and his advisors from the early 1930's to his death in 1953. Its a great study of the brutality of Stalin and his key advisors, and the interaction between the families.
If you want a great personality study of the leaders of the Bolshevik revolution this is the book for you. Its a daunting read at nearly 700 pages, but the pictures are very interesting.
Out of all of the monsters of the 20th centuries, Stalin was unique because he took no pleasure out of what he did, he took no real pleasure out of his war against his own peasants. He saw everything as a statistic or a tactic, and nothing more.
Its not a justification or a statement of admiration, but his cold logical approach to leadership, while being described as very charming and human makes him even more frightening.
A great read if your interested in 20th century history.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
|