Bettie's Books

Description: Young Stalin tells the story of a charismatic, darkly turbulent boy born into poverty, of doubtful parentage, scarred by his upbringing but possessed of unusual talents. Admired as a romantic poet and trained as a priest — both by the time he was in his early twenties — he found his true mission as a fanatical revolutionary. A mastermind of bank robbery, protection rackets, arson, piracy and murder, he was equal parts terrorist, intellectual and brigand. Here is the dramatic story of his friendships and hatreds, his many love affairs — with women from every social stratum and age group — his illegitimate children and his complicated relationship with the Tsarist secret police.

It will take a lot to match Alan Bullock's expansive and magisterial doorstopper yet this may throw some light onto the personal side of things.

As an aside, I fully recommend for an entertaining contrast.

The assasination of Kirov in December 1934 was the bully-off for the Great Purge.

Just as well I had read this after reading One Night In Winter because that would not have been awarded 5*, no siree. It turns out that the novel was ah-but a re-vamp of facts from this, with a fictional twist. Certainly not so original as one first thought.

Should I go and downgrade One Night In Winter?

Nah, like I say, it was my blissful ignorance that gave me that one before this, but some might feel mightily short-changed; just saying s'all.

[In terms of honest reviewing, which is what we care about most, I would NOW give One Night In Winter just a 3* if I did go back and change because he has sort of plagiarised his own book, this one.]

Anyways folks, this was compulsive audio; well researched and capably written.

4*