My Life: An Attempt at an Autobiography"Since its publication in 1930, My Life has been recognized as one of the world's great autobiographies. Its literary qualities alone make it a valuable human document. But because of Trotsky's role as a central leader and, second to V.I. Lenin, the most prominent figure of the October 1917 revolution in Russia, the book has become a classic historical document as well. Written in the first year of Trotsky's exile in Turkey, My Life tells the story of the Russian revolutions of 1905 and 1917, and of the struggle to consolidate the young workers and peasants government. It recounts the fight to defend the revolution's internationalist course, championed by Lenin, against the counterrevolutionary policies of growing petty-bourgeois social layers headed by Joseph Stalin. Trotsky's continuation of this struggle in exile is told in an introduction by Joseph Hansen, Trotsky's secretary from 1937 until his assassination in 1940 by Stalin's secret police." -- |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
already answer appeared army arrived asked became began Bolsheviks boys brought called carried Central close Committee completely congress course demanded direct entire everything exile eyes face fact father felt followed force French friends front gave German give hand head hour ideas important interest International knew later leaders learned Lenin letter lived looked Marxism meeting Mensheviks military months Moscow mother move never night October officers once organization party passed peace period played police political prison question revolution revolutionary Russian seemed side Social sometimes soon Soviet struggle taken thing thought tion took train tried Trotsky trying turn wanted whole workers write wrote young