The Court of the Red Tsar!
This article was published before 2022, therefore before the rise of generative AI. Some information may now be outdated. The period drawings and visuals shown here were created without the assistance of artificial intelligence.
Written by Simon Sebag Montefiore (British writer / historian specialized in the history of Russia), the biography of the dictator Stalin, “The Court of the Red Tsar”, the edition I browsed is spread over two “pocket” volumes (which have only the title), separating Stalin’s “reign” into two periods, from 1929 to 1941, and from 1941 to 1953.
The objects
The two books, a Tempus edition, are in fact one and the same book. The covers are photos that really strike the imagination; I found myself reading the descriptions on the back to know who was on them (apart from Stalin, obviously…). On the other hand, the publisher made a catastrophic choice by splitting it into two books, even if this is perfectly justified from a narrative point of view. Indeed, from the very first readings, pages detached from the spine of the book… On the other hand, the “pocket” format still allowed me to read it on the subway without difficulty. Perhaps “The Court of the Red Tsar” should have been divided into four volumes?
The writing
The writing is simple and accessible (it is a translation from English) and this huge documentary work brings out a wealth of anecdotes and details that one undoubtedly savors! The historian spent more than two years on it, and personally collected numerous testimonies from former members of the court. By the end of the book, one has the impression of having somewhat rubbed shoulders with Stalin in power, and one realizes the steel nerves it took to do it! You feel anxious along with the people around him!