Stalin

A mostrous tyrant, Stalin's rule of the Soviet Union was one of the bloodiest episodes in modern history. This profile looks at how, regarded as intellectually inferior by his rivals, Stalin managed to rise to power and rule the largest country in the world and achieve divine-like status as a dictator.

Stalin was once described - by Hitler - as "half beast, half giant". How did a man once regarded by his rivals as intellectually inferior come to achieve near-divine status as dictator of the largest country in the world? This biography argues that the key to understanding the enigma of Stalin lies in his unadulterated political ambition.

This profile looks at how Stalin, despite being regarded as intellectually inferior by his rivals, managed to rise to power and rule the largest country in the world, achievieving divine-like status as a dictator.

Through recently uncovered research material and Stalin’s archives in Moscow, Kuromiya analyzes how and why Stalin was a rare, even unique, politician who literally lived by politics alone. He analyses how Stalin understood psychology campaigns well and how he used this understanding in his political reign and terror. Kuromiya provides a convincing, concise and up-to-date analysis of Stalin’s political life.