The Death of Stalin (Great Events)
Sheila Fitzpatrick
Apr 2025 · Old Street Publishing · Narrated by Ciaran Saward
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3 hr 21 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
When Joseph Stalin died in 1953, he had been the unchallenged leader of the Soviet Union for over twenty years, having presided over the ruthless modernisation of the early 1930s, the Great Purges later in the decade, the near-catastrophe and ultimate victory of World War II, and the country's postwar emergence as a superpower. He was surrounded by a cult that made him seem godlike; no successors were in sight. His death was bound to be a deeply unsettling event, both in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. In The Death of Stalin, Sheila Fitzpatrick draws on her unparalleled knowledge of Stalin's circle and Soviet society to tell a tale that blends black comedy with forensic analysis of the problems and opportunities – often missed – created by the death of the dictator. The final chapter deals with Stalin's eventful afterlife, including his recent resurrection in Putin's Russia. This is both a riveting read and a salutary one. --- Great Events is a new series of short, scholarly and accessible books on major moments in modern history.
About the author
SHEILA FITZPATRICK is a leading authority on the history of the Soviet Union. She regularly contributes to the London Review of Books, and is the multi-award winning author of many books, including The Shortest History of the Soviet Union, Everyday Stalinism, On Stalin's Team and The Russian Revolution. She is Bernadotte E. Schmitt Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Russian History and the College at the University of Chicago.
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