Stalin Man and Ruler
Stalin Man and Ruler by Robert Hatch McNeal is a new edition published by New York University Press in 1988, comprising 389 pages in English. This biography presents a nuanced portrayal of Joseph Stalin, aiming to demythologize the often vilified figure rather than rehabilitate him. McNeal, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, explores Stalin’s rise to power, emphasizing his political acumen and the societal context of his actions during the collectivization drive and the annihilation of the kulaks.
Readers will find a detailed examination of Stalin’s character, depicting him as a complex leader whose commitment to class warfare led to widespread terror and tragedy. McNeal delves into the paradox of Stalin as a hyperrational ruler whose decisions often bordered on insanity, providing insights into his personal life, including the probable suicide of his wife and his fraught relationship with his daughter. This biography offers a comprehensive look at Stalin’s political strategies and the historical implications of his rule, making it a significant contribution to the study of Soviet history.
Official synopsis Publisher
The author argues that he does not wish to rehabilitate Stalin, only to demythologize him. Power-hungry schemer, sadistic monster, secretive tyrantthese are the familiar images. But in this controversial biography, McNeal, professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, paints the Soviet ruler as an “immensely gifted politician” who rose to the top through unrelenting hard work and flexibility. According to McNeal, whose books include The Bolshevik Tradition and Bride of the Revolution , the collectivizing drive in the 1920s and the annihilation of the kulaks were ripples in a vast agrarian upheaval that had wide grass-roots support before Stalin became involved. Dismissing the notion that Stalin went crazy, he presents a ruthless leader whose commitment to class war made terror acceptable and brought tragedy to his nation. In attempting to set the record straight, McNeal poses the chilling paradox of a hyperrational ruler whose politics bordered on insanity. This full-scale biography is filled with juicy human/inhuman details such as the probable suicide of the dictator’s wife, his psychological war with his daughter, his snubbing of Mao. History Book Club selection. (September)
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