Trotsky: A Photographic Biography

by David King, Tamara Deutscher (introduction), James Ryan (Commentary)

This photographic record forms a useful supplement to the large number of conventional studies already devoted to the life & times of Leon Trotsky. Carefully selected, the 400 photos have a cumulative, curiously affective influence; slowly one feels involuntary solidarity with Trotsky as he presides over a meeting in 1905, strikes a victory pose with Lenin in Red Square, ruminates over civil war strategy in his famous armored train or lies dying in a Mexico City hospital (victim of Stalin's inability to accept his "ideological deviations"). Tho the text is almost telegraphic in its brevity, it does complement the photos. Strongly recommended. --Mark R. Yerburgh, Trinity College Library, Burlington, Vt.
Photographs from the David King Collection
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
From Yanovka to the Finland Station
Revlution
The Conspiracy of the Epigones
The Planet Without a Visa
The Struggle for the Future
Assassination

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1986

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given me by Nav, a friend whom I helped move from one apartment building to another in Rogers Park, Chicago. Much, maybe most, of his stuff had to do with texts: papers, books, files, shelves--and this was my reward.

It was a good one. I was intrigued by the idea of a Marxist, Fourth Internationalist coffee table picture book. And that is what it is--lots of photographs of or about Leon Trotsky with a running biographical commentary, chronologically organized.