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Trotsky
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Trotsky (edit title/settings)

A Biography

by Robert Service (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Robert Service completes his masterful trilogy on the founding figures of the Soviet Union in an eagerly anticipated, authoritative biography of Leon Trotsky. Trotsky is perhaps the most intriguing and, given his prominence, the most understudied of the Soviet revolutionaries. Using new... read more

Summary edit see section history

Together with Lenin , Trotsky remains the most famous bolshevik in the history of the October Revolution. This comprehensive and at times difficult to read biography gives a full picture of the life and trajectory of a man that was highly revered by some and hated with fervor by... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Together with Lenin , Trotsky remains the most famous bolshevik in the history of the October Revolution. This comprehensive and at times difficult to read biography gives a full picture of the life and trajectory of a man that was highly revered by some and hated with fervor by others.
From the details of his childhood years to the time when he met his end we learn that he was a unique and brilliant individual, a Marxist fanatic that never ceased to promote the world revolution, an unforgettable orator and activist and yet, not a good politician. Lacking the courage to admit mistakes he chose to get stuck in his 1917 ideas . He manage to alienate friends and allies and it was his narcissismand narrow vision that also caused him to ignore warnings of infiltration and further treason. An expensive mistake that resulted in his violent death.
He was revered by his family , especially his life companion, Natalia Sedova who stood by him until the end of her life. Anybody closely connected to him, family and closest allies were all liquidated by Stalin's orders. Thus his influence in world politics was only revived in the late 1960's by students, protesters and terrorists who most likely never read any of his pamphlets and books.
It is hard to feel sorry for a man that did not show when in power, clemency for others and yet , because he was killed by a Stalinist and because of his exile one tends to wish that he had just faded instead of having had a a martyr's end.
According to the extensive bibliography it is clear that Robert Service did ample homework in documenting every passage of this rich biography.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “"In his manner of speaking Trotsky was the polar opposite of Lenin"”
    Petersburg Soviet member Roman Gul
  • “"On one side there is struggle, courage, truth, freedom...On the other-deviousness, baseness, slander, slavery...Citizens, make your choice"”
    Trotsky
  • “"You are caressing me with tools of steel"”
    Trotsky to Caire Sheridan, sculptor.
  • “"The man who repudiates terrorism in principle-i.e repudiates measures of suppression and intimidation against determined and armed counter-revolution-must reject any idea of political supremacy of the working class and its revolutionary dictatorship. The man who repudiates the dictatorship of the proletariat is also repudiating socialist revolution and digging the grave of socialism"”
    Trotsky
  • “"However important and full of life is the need of our work to transform culture, it still stands under the sign of European and global revolution. We remain soldiers on campaign. WE have a rest day. Each has to wash his shirt, to trim and comb his hair and first and foremost to clean ad oil his rifle"”
    Leon Trotsky
  • “" He exclaimed at the Politburo: "Phone -tapping is a fact". Nobody contradicted him”
    Robert SErvice talking about Trotsky

Organizations edit see section history

Show all 27 organizations

First Sentence edit see section history

"Trotsky moved like a bright comet across the political sky"

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. The family Bronstein
2. Upbringing
3. Schooling
4.The young revolutionary
5. Love and Prison
6. Siberian Exile
7.Iskra
8.Cutting loose
9.The year 1905
10. Trial and Punishment
11. Again the Emigrant
12. Unifier
13. Special correspondent
14.War on the War
15. Designs for Revolution
16. Atlantic Crossings
17. Nearly a Bolshevik
18. 18. Threats and Promises
19. Seizure of Power
20.People's Commisar
21. Trotsky and the Jews
22. Brest-Litovsk
23. Kazan and After
24. Almost the Commander
25. The Red Victory
26. World Revolution
27. Images and the Life
28. Peace and War
29. Back from the Brink
30. Disputing about Reform
31. The politics of Illness
32. The Left Opposition
33. On the Cultural Front
34. Failing to Succeed
35. Entourage and Faction
36. Living with Trotsky
37. What Trotsky Wanted.
38. Last Stan in Moscow
39. Buyukada
40. Alma- Ata
41. Looking for Revolutions
42. The Writer
43. Russian Connections
44. Europe South and North
45. Setting up in Mexico
46. The Fourth International
47. Trotsty and His Women
48. "The Russian Question"
49. Confronting the Philosophers
50. The Second World War
51. Assasination
52. The Keepers of the Flame
43. Europe South and North

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Robert Service (Author)

Classification edit see section history

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