Lenin

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Lenin's politics continue to resonate globally, even after the USSR's dissolution. His name evokes both revulsion and reverence, yet the man himself remains enigmatic. This biography presents Lenin in his full complexity as a revolutionary, political leader, thinker, and private individual. Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov in 1870 to a schools inspector and a doctor's daughter, he emerged as a pivotal figure in the Soviet revolution and one of the most influential politicians of the twentieth century. Robert Service draws on newly discovered sources to explore the social, cultural, and political catalysts behind Lenin's rise to global prominence. The narrative spans the tumultuous period from the collapse of tsarism to the establishment of a communist one-party state, examining themes of dictatorship, the Marxist revolutionary dream, civil war, and interwar European politics. Despite the hardships he imposed, Lenin was mourned upon his death in 1924. Service portrays him as both a political giant and a relatable human being, emphasizing the role of his supportive family and cultural background. The biography delves into his education, upbringing, and early struggles, illustrating the emergence of a rebel whose commitment to destruction overshadowed his purported devotion to the proletariat. It reveals how his intellectual pursuits and inner turmoil fueled his transformation from a young Marxist activist to the founder of the commu