Trotsky, The Passionate Revolutionary

Trotsky, a controversial figure, has had many biographers. Robert Service's book explores his passionate oratory, Bolshevik Revolution, Red Army, opposition to Stalin, Marxist theory, and Trotskyism. It also reveals his love of writing, sympathetic writings on art and literature, family life, and relationships with children. The book includes explicit language about his relationship with Natalya Sedova.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Trotsky, a controversial figure who was assassinated over eighty years ago, has attracted numerous biographers throughout the years. These biographers have ranged from those who exhibit excessive sympathy to those who display extreme hostility towards him. Robert Service, Trotsky's most recent biographer, expressed the hope that his book would finally put an end to Trotsky, a task that he believed the ice axe had failed to accomplish in 1940.

This biography delves into the various aspects for which Trotsky is renowned, including his captivating and inspiring oratory, his pivotal role in organizing the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917, his masterful orchestration of the creation of the Red Army and its victorious outcome during the Civil War, his unwavering opposition to Stalin's establishment of a monolithic party and state, his status as a Marxist theoretician of socialist revolution and his fight against fascism, and, of course, his pioneering contributions to the development of Trotskyism, a distinct brand of revolutionary socialism that emerged as early as 1906.

However, this biography also delves into lesser-known aspects of Trotsky's life. One such aspect is his deep-seated love for writing, which emerged from a very early age. The world of books and publishing became his first passion, and it remained his lifelong love, even if revolutionary politics had taken precedence. Following the November Revolution, Trotsky aspired to return to his literary pursuits, believing that his primary practical work as a revolutionary was complete. When compared to the stifling strictures of Socialist Realism associated with Stalinism, Trotsky's writings on art and literature exhibit remarkable sympathy and openness. He also wrote numerous insightful articles as a war correspondent, covering both the Balkan Wars and the early stages of the First World War.

In conclusion, Trotsky's life and legacy continue to be a subject of intense debate and fascination. While his contributions to revolutionary socialism and his opposition to Stalinism are widely recognized, his personal life and his literary pursuits are equally intriguing. This biography provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of Trotsky's life, exploring his political achievements, his personal struggles, and his enduring influence on the world of politics.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399010764