MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review Materialists, Unmoored, Together, and Bambi: A Tale of Life in The Woods
The life of the young Stalin in every conceivable context
Stalin emerges from this book as unremarkable, but his discipline and aptitude as a practical worker commended him to Lenin, who was repaid with unflinching political loyalty, writes ANDREW MURRAY
TONY BURKE revels in the publication of previously unreleased tracks by the great US folksinger
GORDON PARSONS endures heavy rock punctuated by Shakespeare, and a delighted audience
STEVE JOHNSON recommends a protest album with a harder edge than many in the genre
DENNIS BROE finds much to praise in the new South African Netflix series, but wonders why it feels forced to sell out its heroine
CARL DEATH introduces a new book which explores how African science fiction is addressing climate change
In his second round-up, EWAN CAMERON picks excellent solo shows that deal with Scottishness, Englishness and race as highlights
Stalin – Passage to Revolution
by Ronald Grigor Suny,
Princeton Press £30.59
THE problem besetting any author writing about Stalin is set out plainly by Ronald Suny on page two of this enormous book. “The drama of his life, the achievements and tragedies, are so morally and emotionally charged that they challenge the usual practices of historical objectivity and scholarly neutrality.”
Stalin’s life, Suny writes, “is the story of the making of the Soviet Union and a particular vision of what he called socialism.” It is one of the most emotionally charged stories of the last century.
The Italian historian of communism Aldo Agosti called it “the greatest paradox of the 20th century, the phenomenon of communism, capable of mobilising the hopes and energies of millions of human beings in the struggle for their own emancipation, and at the same time sacrificing the dignity and the lives of just as many.”
More from this author
Corbyn and Sultana commit to launching new socialist party
If Labour MPs who rebelled over the welfare reforms expected to be listened to, they shouldn’t have underestimated the vindictiveness of the Starmer regime. But a new left party that might rehome them is yet to be established, writes ANDREW MURRAY
Starmer doubles down on witch hunt by suspending the whip from Diane Abbott
