In 'Lenin', Victor Sebestyen delivers a compelling portrait of one of history's most enigmatic figures. The book explores the tension between Lenin’s revolutionary ideals and the brutal reality of power. Sebestyen sheds light on the intricate tapestry of Lenin's life, revealing the personal struggles and strategic genius behind the Bolshevik revolution. Through vivid storytelling, readers are drawn into the tumultuous era that shaped modern Russia. This gripping narrative invites readers to reconsider the legacy of a man who changed the course of history.
By Victor Sebestyen
Published: 2018
""Revolution does not happen when society is ready for it, but when an individual seizes the moment to ignite change.""
Victor Sebestyen's riveting biography of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin—the first major biography in English in nearly two decades—is not only a political examination of one of the most important historical figures of the twentieth century but also a fascinating portrait of Lenin the man. Brought up in comfort and with a passion for hunting and fishing, chess, and the English classics, Lenin was radicalized after the execution of his brother in 1887. Sebestyen traces the story from Lenin's early years to his long exile in Europe and return to Petrograd in 1917 to lead the first Communist revolution in history. Uniquely, Sebestyen has discovered that throughout Lenin's life his closest relationships were with his mother, his sisters, his wife, and his mistress. The long-suppressed story told here of the love triangle that Lenin had with his wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, and his beautiful, married mistress and comrade, Inessa Armand, reveals a more complicated character than that of the coldly one-dimensional leader of the Bolshevik Revolution. With Lenin's personal papers and those of other leading political figures now available, Sebestyen gives is new details that bring to life the dramatic and gripping story of how Lenin seized power in a coup and ran his revolutionary state. The product of a violent, tyrannical, and corrupt Russia, he chillingly authorized the deaths of thousands of people and created a system based on the idea that political terror against opponents was justified for a greater ideal. An old comrade what had once admired him said that Lenin "desired the good . . . but created evil." This included his invention of Stalin, who would take Lenin's system of the gulag and the secret police to horrifying new heights. In Lenin, Victor Sebestyen has written a brilliant portrait of this dictator as a complex and ruthless figure, and he also brings to light important new revelations about the Russian Revolution, a pivotal point in modern history. (With 16 pages of black-and-white photographs)
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“"Revolution does not happen when society is ready for it, but when an individual seizes the moment to ignite change."”
Lenin
By Victor Sebestyen
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Victor Sebestyen is a British historian and author, renowned for his works on modern history, particularly regarding Eastern Europe and the Cold War. He is best known for his books 'Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire', which offers an in-depth analysis of the events that changed the face of Eastern Europe, and 'Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution', a detailed exploration of a pivotal moment in Hungary's history. Sebestyen's writing style is characterized by meticulous research, engaging narrative, and a deep understanding of the political and social dynamics of the region. His ability to bring historical events to life has garnered him critical acclaim and a loyal readership.
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