Hi everyone, I'm interested in the early history of the Soviet Union, and I was wondering if this sub had an opinion on the recently released Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, by Stephen Kotkin. Are there better bios out there?
I'd also like book recommendations for a Lenin bio and a history of the Russian Revolution of 1917, as well as a history of the USSR under Lenin and Stalin.
Thanks!
EDIT: concerning the Stalin bio, if anyone could engage the one two-star rating and the one one-star rating in their reply, it'd be much appreciated! Read them here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/1594203792/s=sd/ref=mw_dp_cr?vs=1.
I'll make this a very quick comment because while I will pick up this book, I have not as yet read it.
The reason I'm commenting is that Kotkin is a divisive figure in a divided field. There's no doubting that his Magnetic Mountain is something a masterpiece but it's been as controversial as it is influential. The issue isn't research per se (although Kotkin infamously has little time for 'archival fetishism') but its post-modernist and Foucauldian influences. By focusing on the theory of identity construction, Kotkin constructs 'Stalinism as a civilisation', implicitly arguing that dissent was impossible in a society in which all had to 'speak Bolshevik'.
(That's been strenuously disputed by the likes of Kevin Murphy and Jeffrey Rossman who point to the formative role that workplace agitation continued to play in shaping Soviet identities and the degree to which Stalinist language/promises could be turned back on itself.)
All of which is a long way of saying that Kotkin divides academic opinion and probably takes an unusual approach to Stalin. I'll still buy his book though. And ignore the one-star review: I'd recognise the language/tone of a Stalin apologist from a mile off.
Right. On to what I can actually help with. In terms of reading material, there's obviously a huge amount out there. Below are some semi-random picks from me on 1917 and Stalinism (deliberately skipping the NEP):
1917 Revolution:
Shelia Fitzpatrick, The Russian Revolution: Very concise overview of the key themes and events, including the advent of Stalinism
Rex Wade, The Russian Revolution: Probably the best introductory work on 1917
Orlando Figes, A People's Tragedy: Flawed but comprehensive account of the fall of the Tsardom, Revolution and Civil War
Alexander Rabinowitch, The Bolsheviks in Power: Covers the first year of Bolshevik rule in Petrograd in some detail. Also check out Prelude to Revolution and The Bolsheviks Come to Power
Ewan Mawdsley, The Russian Civil War: Solid account of the Civil War
Stalinism
Mark Edele, Stalinist Society: Very solid introduction to Stalinism in its many facets
Shelia Fitzpatrick, Everyday Stalinism: Does what it says on the tin
J Arch Getty, The Road to Terror: Interesting look at the purges and the logic beneath them
That should get you started. Looking at my bookshelf, the rest tend to be either cover the same ground or are more specialist (particularly in the case of the NEP/Stalinism). Happy to add more if you've got specific areas that you'd like to focus on.