The author, Steven Otfinoski wrote this piece of literature
magnificently. It proved to be very educational and informative. The style of
writing in this book portrays an accomplished author because it is simple but
complete. This book is a good example of time spent well. The information
stored within the content of this book is exact and to the point. Steven
Otfinoski’s choice of words depicted Stalin with great ease. By using
comparisons, Steven Otfinoski offered the reader a different view upon the matter.
One important part of a biography is organization and Steven Otfinoski performed that task
superbly in this book. It is obvious to the reader that Steven Otfinoski spent much
time gathering information on Stalin that helped him write such a successful book.
Steven Otfinoski chose very particular pieces of information relating to his
childhood, but concentrated on his effort during World War Two, the Cold War and his rise
to power. Steven Otfinoski describes Stalin during his reign of terror superbly. Steven
Otfinoski gathered information of others and brought that all together into one book that
says it all. By concentrating on the time in life when Stalin made his greatest
impact on the world he captivates his audience. By concentrating on the most important
information, Steven Otfinoski opened a doorway for continued interest and mystery.
Though facts that are thought of as essentials are included it is the absence of some
smaller facts or opinions that makes this book grand and singled out.
Throughout the book Steven Otfinoski places quotes and portions of letters
written by well-known people of the century. The quotes gave life to the biography
and more insight from the other people of his time. In one letter from Lenin to the
Parliament, Lenin writes that Stalin has become a threat to the safety of Russia (to be
known as the USSR in 1922). Steven Otfinoski shows the reader how Stalin’s might and
use of words convinces the entire government into becoming his subjects. Not was it
as easy as that throughout the book. Steven Otfinoski shows how Stalin was extremely
talented in the fields of espionage, manipulation, and treachery. Steven Otfinoski
portrays Stalin superbly throughout the course of this book and depicts his true
character. Never have I seen such accuracy in the descriptions of important
historical figures. Steven Otfinoski’s ability to use quotes and letters supports his
thoughts and makes his book extraordinary and unique.
In addition to that Steven Otfinoski uses comparisons which enlighten,
strengthen, and support his book. Some of these people include Adolf Hitler and
Lenin. When compared to Hitler, Steven Otfinoski said that both men were tyrant
fanatics but Hitler gained the support of his people and Stalin did not. Hitler was
so powerful in his speeches that people called out liberation when German troops marched
into their towns. The author also shows how Lenin and Stalin were alike. In
many ways the author proves them to be opposites. Lenin wanted to keep the present
form of government and to not change. Stalin on the other hand believed that time
for change has long been waiting and now Russia must catch up 50 years of advancements in
ten years. To do this Stalin changed the face of Russia from a farm to an
industrialized country.
Even though some people consider Stalin great, Steven Otfinoski shows the other side of
the story. The whole truth impressed me and kept me interested we see Stalin from the side
of his followers, from the side of his family, and from the sign of his prisoners.
Throughout the biography Steven Otfinoski demonstrates his skills splendidly and uses many
literary techniques to enhance his book. This biography is very interesting and
captivating. It is worth a couple hours to read this biographical account of
Stalin.
Quotes
This quote demonstrates the author’s research and knowledge around
Stalin. It is from one of the doctors sitting at Stalin’s deathbed.
“The death agony was horrible. He literally choked to death as we
watched. At what seemed like the very last moment he opened eyes and cast a glance
over everyone in the room. It was a terrible glance, insane or perhaps angry and
full of fear of death and the unfamiliar faces of the doctors bent over him . . . . Then
something incomprehensible and awesome happened that to this day I can’t forget and
don’t understand. He suddenly lifted his left hand as though he were pointing
to something above us and bringing a curse on us all. The gesture was
incomprehensible and full of menace, and no one could say to whom or at what it might be
directed. The next moment, after a final effort, the spirit wrenched itself free of
the flesh.”
Another quote reflects how Stalin suspected everybody even his own family.
“His face was, as usual, absolutely expressionless. He looked at me and said,
‘You know, Antipov has been arrested.’ Nikolai Antipov was a prominent
politician from Leningrad.
‘No I didn’t know’, I answered.
‘Well’, said Stalin, ‘he had some evidence against you.’ He was
staring into with that blank look of his.
I stared back, at first not knowing what to say. Then I answered, ‘I don’t
know anything about the whole business. But I do know that Antipov could not offer
any evidence against me, because we’ve had only a nodding acquaintance.’
I think Stalin was trying to read something in my eyes. What ever he saw there gave
him no reason to suspect any link between me and Antipov. If he’d somehow got
the impression that I might soon have learned about a new enemy of the people.”
The third quote demonstrates, how Stalin was not to be remembered by his
people for the good or at all.
“In the last years of his reign, Stalin’s image was pervasive through the Soviet
bloc. He was particularly fond of large, monumental statues of himself like this one
in Bucharest, Romania. Most of these statues were torn down during the period known
as the “destalinization” period in the late 1950’s.”
Synopsis
Joseph Stalin (Iosif Vissarionvich Dzhugashvili) was born in Gori a city in
Georgia on December 21. Russia at the time was divided into 13 states. Georgia
was one of the leading Catholic Orthodox states and sought reform in the Russian
government. Stalin’s mother had very high hopes for her son and wanted him to
become a priest because priests were highly respected in peasant villages. In 1894
Stalin enrolled in Tbilisi Theological Seminary where they studied to become
priests. However, the school concentrated on the current government more than
religion, which got Stalin interested in the revolutionary factions. In 1899 Stalin
was expelled and his mother’s dreams destroyed. In 1900 Stalin led an
unsuccessful protest in Tbilisi. Again 1902 he tried to gain support by convincing
an oil company in Batum to strike. The strike was a dead loss and all the employees
lost their jobs. Again in another oil producing city Stalin led a strike, but even
more drastic consequences came from it. Many people were injured or killed.
Stalin was arrested for the Batum strike and exiled to Siberia, however he escaped and
returned to the Georgian State. Stalin would be sent to Siberia six times and only
once could he not get back. When returning he married Ekaterina Svanidze
whom made his life become joyous. In 1907 when his wife dies his personality changed
for the worse. In 1906 Stalin met Lenin at the Social Democratic Society in
Sweden. In 1912 he helped found that Bolshevik newspaper which spread
propaganda. In 1917 Nicholas II gives the thrown to the Bolshevik Party and Lenin
takes charge of Russia. Lenin did not gain the thrown easily however, for nine years
the two factions of communists fought and were known as the reds and whites. At the
end the Reds prevailed. Just into 1924 Lenin dies and Stalin takes command. Up
to this time Stalin has secretly been conspiring against the government but Lenin died
before he could take action. As his first act Stalin called for collectivization of
farms. The Kuvaks fought this idea but eventually the government prevailed and the
change to a republic began. During Stalin’s reign of terror, he killed nine
million people that he thought threatened him. At the beginning of W.W.II Stalin
uses his power to capture Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. The treacherous
Germans broke the non-aggression pact and invaded Russia taking nearly 300 miles of land
before the Russians began to organize. The Russians ally was the unusual cold
winter. Stalin goes into the Cold War where the U.S. and Russia were looking at
total world annihilation by atomic bombing. On May 5, 1953 Stalin died in his
chambers surrounded by doctors from a blood vessel pop in his brain. At first
Stalin’s body was buried in Lenin’s chambers but later moved because the people
thought he was unworthy of such honor.