This book is incredibly well researched, far reaching and sophisticated. It doesn't just talk about factors of Stalin's youth that were relevant to transforming him into the man we know him as today, it also includes little asides and promenades down alleyways of anecdotes and stories; all of which can be attributed to memoirs, interviews, and other sources. It really lays out the picture of Stalin as not only a hard-playing revolutionary, but also as a lover and a poet; a Romantic at heart and a deeply emotional man (at least, until the death of Kato Svadnize).
If I had to recommend anyone a book based on the premise of a Stalin biography, it would almost certainly be this one: the information and the story are so compelling that it engages you, and you find yourself rushing to tell people around you of the funny stories, idiosyncrasies, and naive mistakes that the legendary Stalin made.
Truly, a fantastic book. There was only one flaw that prevents it from getting five stars: the author can't seem to stop himself putting in comments as to his own opinions on Stalin. Of course, we all know he was a cruel leader and a dictator to end all, but Montefiore seems to find it a requirement to ensure that we remember this every time he tells us anything even remotely endearing about the man- making Stalin completely unlikeable in every aspect seemed to be a key intention of this book.
I recommend it completely; as long as you remember that just because Stalin was a horrible man in later life, that doesn't mean that he didn't have nice aspects to his personality! This book tells you of his helpfulness, his eager first days as a revolutionary, his first strike, the exiles which changes him deeply, his romances and his mistakes. Stalin is humanised as never before, despite the attempts of Montefiore to tell you otherwise.
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