The Death of Stalin

'Wise, comprehensive and brilliantly succinct' OWEN MATTHEWS, author of Stalin's Children

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 listen and a salutary one.

©2025 Sheila Fitzpatrick (P)2025 Old Street Publishing

Excellent short history of a critical event.

This short book focusses on a single event, showing how the actual history differs from popular misconceptions. Generally well read, besides the usual problem of being too lazy to look up proper pronunciations of the Russian words.