Lenin A Revolutionary Life

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was an enigmatic leader, a resolute and audacious politician who had an immense impact on 20th century world history. Lenin's life and career have been at the center of much ideological debate for decades. The post-Soviet era has seen a revived interest and re-evaluation of the Russian Revolution and Lenin's legacy.

This new biography gives a fresh and original account of Lenin's personal life and political career. Christopher Read draws on a broad range of primary and secondary sources, making use of archive material made available in the Glasnost and post-Soviet eras. Focal points of this study are Lenin's revolutionary ascetic personality; his exploitation of cultural, educational and propaganda means; his relationship to Marxism; his changing class analysis of Russia; and his "populist" instincts.

This biography is an excellent and reliable introduction to one of the key figures of the Russian Revolution and post-tsarist Russia.

From a highly distinguished author on the subject, this biography is an excellent scholarly introduction to one of the key figures of the Russian Revolution and post-Tsarist Russia. Not only does it make use of archive material made newly available in the glasnost and post-Soviet eras, it re-examines traditional sources as well, providing an original interpretation of Lenin's life and historical importance. Focal points of this study are: Lenin's revolutionary ascetic personality how he exploited culture, education and propaganda his relationship to Marxism his changing class analysis of Russia his 'populist' instincts. A prominent figure at the forefront of debates on the Russian revolution, Read makes sure that Lenin remains in his place as a highly influential and significant figure of the recent past.

ContentsIntroduction 1. Choosing Revolution 2. Laying the Foundations of Leninism (1896-1902) 3. Constructing Leninism 4. Imperialism, War and Revolution 5. From the Finland Station to the Winter Palace 6. From Classroom to Laboratory - Early Experiments 7. Revolutionary War 8. Re-evaluation, Succession and Testament Conclusion. Further Reading Timeline

Christopher Read is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Warwick. He is author of From Tsar to Soviets: The Russian People and Their Revolution, 1917-21 (1996), Culture and Power in Revolutionary Russia (1990) and The Making and Breaking of the Soviet System (2001).