Joseph Stalin: A Biographical Companion

by Helen Rappaport

Overview

To get to the top, Joseph Stalin outmaneuvered Lenin, Trotsky, Kirov, and a legion of equally ruthless revolutionaries. This accessible and easy to read reference work reveals the more personal side of the Machiavellian mastermind, who not only orchestrated the Great Terror but also forged the USSR into a world power.

Joseph Stalin: A Biographical Companion offers balanced coverage and makes use of new information from Soviet archives, while at the same time avoids mind-numbing communist jargon and terminology. Also included are scores of rare illustrations, some never before published in the West.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781576070840
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/13/1999
Series:	Biographical Companions
Pages:	388
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	15 Years

About the Author

Helen Rappaport is a professional writer and editor for leading reference publishers.

Editorial Reviews

Articles are clearly written and vocabulary is accessible to students at the secondary school level and above. Recommended as a reference source in public libraries and in high school and college libraries where a curriculum need exists.” —Booklist

“Both books are factual and well written … Fascinating lives make a fascinating reading and both these volumes are not only useful as references, but they offer interesting insights… Both will be of use in libraries where there is demand, and, as with the other books in this series, larger academic and public libraries may want these books in circulation.” —Against the Grain

From the Publisher

Gr 10 Up-These alphabetically arranged entries include not only the Russian leader and other important political and cultural figures, but also policies and special terms of the Stalinist era. Subjects related to World War II and broad subject areas ("Education," "Religion," and "Science") are also covered. Specific topics such as "Collectivization" are given lengthy, detailed coverage, but other articles such as "Family Life" and "Nationalities" are sometimes treated more succinctly, resulting in potential confusion. The writing, however, is usually clear and comments (with a few minor lapses) do not assume a specialized knowledge. The articles are cross-referenced and frequently enlivened with well-selected quotes that convey a sense of the period. While political figures are given their due, the attention to writers, artists, and scientists adds to the book's usefulness in supplementing most textbooks. Black-and-white photographs are included. Finally, in addition to valuable reading suggestions at the end of most entries, there is also an excellent bibliography.-Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

School Library Journal

Rappaport describes some of the most fundamental aspects of the Soviet leader and the political system that he instituted in a form that is accessible both to students of Russia and to lay readers who do not speak Russian and know little about him and the times. She shies away from the complex political aspects of Stalin's (1879-1953) rule to focus on the personal and to interpret how the lives of the Russian population and some of his most famous victims were affected by his 35-year rule. The articles are cross-referenced and topic-specific bibliographies augment the general one. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews