About the book: 2004 / ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷The first volume of “Political Biography of Stalin” offered to the attention of readers is not a description of any individual episodes from his life, but an attempt to highlight all the most important stages of Stalin’s activity, his entire difficult path from a revolutionary rebel to one of the main contenders for Lenin's political legacy. The author devotes a lot of space to the process of forming beliefs and the unique political philosophy of a person who became the leader of a great power. Without understanding this philosophy, it is impossible to understand and give an adequate assessment of domestic and foreign policy, ideology, economic strategy - in fact, all aspects of the life of the Soviet Union during three decades of the last century. The first volume is based on extensive historical material, the analysis of which allows us to reveal the image of the real Stalin -a politician who towered many heads over his opponents and adversaries, which ultimately predetermined his political triumph. The author, in his assessments and conclusions, and in polemics with other biographers of Stalin, sought to maintain all possible objectivity. Although this, apparently, did not guarantee him from biased judgments on certain issues. Nevertheless, the historical picture painted in the volume leads the reader to the inevitable conclusion: it was Stalin who was destined to become the head of the Soviet Union, which naturally acquired the status of one of the two superpowers of the 20th century. The book is distinguished by a clear and simple (but not rustic!) style, a lively presentation of events and facts. Where, by virtue of the very logic of history, the events of the past resonate with the present, the author makes involuntary comparisons and expresses his own comments. Already the figure of Stalin itself attracts close and largely unsatisfied attention. And every year more and more! The reader for whom history is not just yesterday, but in some ways a tangible part of modernity, will find in the book food for thought, and, ultimately, for understanding our historical past. ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷