Young Stalin

Attention all historians! This is the way that history should be written. Simon Sebag Montefiore's magnificent chronicle of Stalin's early years is easily one of the most entertaining and knowledgeable historical biographies that I have ever read. Montefiore has proven to be both an assiduous researcher, as well as a masterful storyteller. Some reviewers have accused Montefiore of being too sensationalistic and novelistic. I call it vivid, descriptive storytelling of the highest caliber. I could actually visualize the scenes in my head as he was describing them. Remember that excruciatingly leaden college professor whose lectures you dreaded sitting through, that tiresome mathematician in historian's clothing? That is the type who will surely be annoyed by this book, although anyone with half a pulse will find it to be a superlative exercise in biographic history. For Pete's sake, the reason I like history is because it is the study of animate objects; people, places, events, etc. It is adventurous, and when done rightly, like Montefiore here, it can truly inspire. Witness the style: "So this is not just a biography, but the chronicle of their milieu, a pre-history of the USSR itself, a study of the subterranean worm and the silent chrysalis before it hatched the steel winged butterfly." Born in 1879 as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, the man who would become known as Stalin, was known throughout his childhood and youth as Soso. Young Soso was born and raised in the industrial Georgian town of Gori, in the far reaches of the Russian Empire. This seething Caucasian town was a turbulent mix of piety, honor and drunken unruliness. "Gori was one of the last towns to practice the picturesque and savage custom of free for all town brawls with special rules, but no holds barred violence. Boozing, praying and fighting were all interconnected, with drunken Priests acting as referees." Soso's father was a drunken cobbler who viciously abused him. His mother was compassionate, yet maybe too much so, as she had a reputation for being promiscuous. Stalin was certainly aware, writes Montefiore, that his biological father might have been one of three neighborhood men that were close to the family. The Georgia of Stalin's youth was also steeped in a culture of rebellion and banditry. Young Soso grew up hearing stories of heroic Georgians who fought off the imperialist forces of Russia, and his original revolutionary cohorts were a turbulent admixture of dedicated Marxists and bloodthirsty criminals. Here is another quote that highlights both the ambiance of Stalin's birthplace, as well as Montefiore's writing style: "Georgians and other Caucasian men in traditional chokha, their skirted long coats lined down the chest with bullet pouches, swaggered down the streets singing loudly. Georgian women in black headscarves and the wives of Russian officers in European fashions, promenaded through the gates of the Pushkin Gardens, buying ices and sherbet alongside Persians and Armenians, Chechens, Abkhaz and mountain Jews in a fancy dressed jamboree of hats and costumes.... ....This un-Slavic, un-Russian and ferociously Caucasian kaleidoscope of east and west was the world that nurtured Stalin." Soso was somewhat of a paradox from early on. He was at once the brightest, most hard-working student, as well as the most mischievous and violent. He was small but tough, constantly getting into fights and assorted thuggery, but at the same time he was a gifted poet, and star choirboy. "Attractive to women, often singing Georgian melodies and declaiming poetry, he was charismatic and humorous, yet profoundly morose, an odd Georgian with a Northern coldness." He was a dashingly handsome and prolific lover, a great organizer, and a maliciously effective political gangster. Soso was, in fact, a typical Georgian in many ways, a people of unfailing hospitality and blood feuds. From Gori, he moved to Tiflis (Tblisi) where he entered a seminary to become a Priest. Ironically, it was here where he first encountered Marxism. After several years, Soso quit the seminary and dedicated his life to being a Marxist revolutionary. It was in Tiflis where he began his political career, which included activities such as brazen bank robberies and extortions. He was constantly on the move, residing at one time or another in Batumi, Baku, Vienna, London, and twice exiled to Siberia, the second time for several years, which had a lasting effect on him. We also learn about his relations with Lenin, Trotsky, and the rest as Montefiore takes us right up until 1917. Montefiore also notes that Stalin's turbulent underground life helped mold his extreme notions of loyalty and betrayal. It is commonly thought that Stalin was not particularly intelligent, but according to Montefiore, that is not true. He lacked a formal education, yet he was a voracious autodidact with a mind like a steel trap. Occasionally mentioned is what type of books Stalin was reading at certain times, and how it affected him. Montefiore also notes that much of the prevailing opinion about Stalin, his intelligence, and his involvement in the Revolution has been taken from Trotsky, who Montefiore says is not entirely reliable. I could go on and on about this terrific book, but I suspect that you get the idea. `Young Stalin' is just an all around enthralling read. Five stars.

Young Stalin is a very narrowly focused biography on the early life of Josef Stalin. The research is impeccable. There is no agenda by the author. This is purely a terrific biography on how Stalin came to be the power figure that everyone feared. In this book Montefiore dispels a myth of Stalin being used by the Tsarists as a spy simply by providing all of the evidence. That's what I liked the most about this book. Montefiore provides the research and then puts it into a readable format so that the history is laid out before the reader. There are a tremendous number of references to other Russians and Georgians - too many to keep track of. However, as Montefiore brings up these names from earlier in the book, he will make a quick reference as to why the name was brought up previously. This is not done with every name, but it is done sufficiently to help with the process. Not many authors bother with this and it was very much appreciated by this reader. In order to keep the story flowing, Montefiore has extensively used footnotes to bring in more detail either from the research or to reference what happened later in Stalin's life. However, there are so many footnotes that it breaks the flow more than helps. This is a slight negative for me. Many of these footnotes refer to his other work: Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. Montefiore has done his homework delving into the newly released files from Russia and Georgia on Stalin's life. Additionally, the author interviewed several key individuals in Stalin's life. In particular, I was fascinated with the times that Lenin and Stalin were organizing the final push. Additionally, Stalin's exile in Siberia was well written and showed a piece of Stalin that we have not seen previously. The only real negative was that his intent is so narrowly focused that there are no forays into the history surrounding these times and very few additional historical references to things happening even in Russia. This book is pure Stalin, all the time. Not a bad thing, but it does make the book tedious at times.

As a purchaser, I've gotten into the habit of following great historians around. After reading Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor and The Fall of Berlin I decided to read anything I could by Mr. Beevor in the future. The same is true in regards to Simon Sebag Montefiore. Few books have I ever enjoyed as much as Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. That publication was so tremendous that I devoured it twice (despite being 800 pages long). Young Stalin is a strong addition to his oeuvre and a worthy follow-up. Most of what's included I did not know previously but the information conveyed illuminates many aspects of Stalin's character. That Stalin was a bit of a rake (with at least two illegitimate children) was something I did not know. Sebag Montefiore makes use of what archive materials are available to showcase a private past that the full power of the Soviet state wanted to keep from being exposed. There are three separate caches of pictures in this volume which added to Young Stalin's worth. Overall, the last 100 pages were what I appreciated most--beginning with the chapter "Stalin's Reindeer-Propelled Sleigh and a Siberian Son." My reason for saying this largely has to do with the narration at the end of the book which closely follows the events preceding the Russian Revolution. This time window brought in analysis concerning Lenin and the rest of the Bolsheviks which heightened its importance. I should lastly note that Young Stalin basically ends--although there is a fine Epilogue--in 1917.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. There are not enough words to describe how much I love this book. An amazing read and now my favorite piece of nonfiction literature. If you want to know anything and everything about what made Stalin Stalin, buy this book. I will be reading this many times over!

sehr unterhaltsam geschrieben, sehr informativ und mit vielen interessanten Details. kann ich nur weiterempfehlen

I’ve always wanted to have this book and now I have it. Thank you!

Great book, with a lot of good insights into the build up towards the revolution. Written as a novel and easily read.

Rigoureux & inventif! Un récit palpitant, romanesque et documenté avec soiin. Dépouillé de toute propagande => Rigourous and well documented & told from a storytelling standpoint. HD.