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My Life: An Attempt At An Autobiography
Since Leon Trotsky's My Life was first published, it has been regarded as a unique political, literary and human document. Written in the first year of Trotsky's exile in Turkey, it contains the earliest authoritative account of the rise of Stalinism and the expulsion of the Left Opposition, who heroically fought for the ideas and traditions of Lenin. Trotsky's exile is the culmination of a narrative which moves from his childhood, his education in the 'universities' of tsarist prisons, Siberia and then his foreign exile - to his involvement in the European revolutionary movement, his central role in the tempestuous 1905 Revolution, the Bolshevik victory in October 1917 and the Civil War which followed. Trotsky's work concludes with the heroic struggle against Stalinism and his eventual exile and deportation from the Soviet Union. "The publication of a new edition of my grandfather's autobiography, My Life , is an important step in establishing the truth," writes Esteban (Sieva) Volkov in the preface to this book. Esteban is the last remaining survivor and witness of the last chapter of Leon Trotsky's life in Mexico. The book also contains an introduction by Alan Woods, the author of many acclaimed works on the Russian revolutionary movement.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
600 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2018
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Leon Trotsky
1,088 books796 followersSee also Лев Троцкий
Russian theoretician Leon Trotsky or Leon Trotski, originally Lev Davidovitch Bronstein, led the Bolshevik of 1917, wrote Literature and Revolution in 1924, opposed the authoritarianism of Joseph Stalin, and emphasized world; therefore later, the Communist party in 1927 expelled him and in 1929 banished him, but he included the autobiographical My Life in 1930, and the behest murdered him in exile in Mexico.
The exile of Leon Trotsky in 1929 marked rule of Joseph Stalin.
People better know this Marxist. In October 1917, he ranked second only to Vladimir Lenin. During the early days of the Soviet Union, he served first as commissar of people for foreign affairs and as the founder and commander of the Red Army and of war. He also ranked among the first members of the Politburo.
After a failed struggle of the left against the policies and rise in the 1920s, the increasing role of bureaucracy in the Soviet Union deported Trotsky. An early advocate of intervention of Army of Red against European fascism, Trotsky also agreed on peace with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. As the head of the fourth International, Trotsky continued to the bureaucracy in the Soviet Union, and Ramón Mercader, a Soviet agent, eventually assassinated him. From Marxism, his separate ideas form the basis of Trotskyism, a term, coined as early as 1905. Ideas of Trotsky constitute a major school of Marxist. The Soviet administration never rehabilitated him and few other political figures.
Russian theoretician Leon Trotsky or Leon Trotski, originally Lev Davidovitch Bronstein, led the Bolshevik of 1917, wrote Literature and Revolution in 1924, opposed the authoritarianism of Joseph Stalin, and emphasized world; therefore later, the Communist party in 1927 expelled him and in 1929 banished him, but he included the autobiographical My Life in 1930, and the behest murdered him in exile in Mexico.
The exile of Leon Trotsky in 1929 marked rule of Joseph Stalin.
People better know this Marxist. In October 1917, he ranked second only to Vladimir Lenin. During the early days of the Soviet Union, he served first as commissar of people for foreign affairs and as the founder and commander of the Red Army and of war. He also ranked among the first members of the Politburo.
After a failed struggle of the left against the policies and rise in the 1920s, the increasing role of bureaucracy in the Soviet Union deported Trotsky. An early advocate of intervention of Army of Red against European fascism, Trotsky also agreed on peace with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. As the head of the fourth International, Trotsky continued to the bureaucracy in the Soviet Union, and Ramón Mercader, a Soviet agent, eventually assassinated him. From Marxism, his separate ideas form the basis of Trotskyism, a term, coined as early as 1905. Ideas of Trotsky constitute a major school of Marxist. The Soviet administration never rehabilitated him and few other political figures.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 28, 2024
Makes me wonder what would have happened to the old USSR if Trotsky was the one who succeeded Lenin instead of Stalin
November 1, 2022
Only read about 100 pages- which i loved. But I am also reading Trotsky's history of the russian revolution and that takes priority. Love his style and his disarming way of writing like a regular fellow though about often portentous things.
November 7, 2022
A fascinating account of the life of Trotsky, from his early years to the Russian revolution and the rise of stalinism
June 11, 2023
This book is immensely helpful to get a real appreciation for the Russian Revolution of 1917, for Lenin and Trotsky and the enormous amount of work they’ve invested into making a great leap in human dignity possible, to get a realistic picture of the scale, viciousness and seriousness of capitalist efforts to destroy any real chance of socialism and communism becoming realised, and of the tragedy that Stalin’s climb to power was to many in the communist movement.
While Stalin was obviously efficient and a good organiser who oversaw an immense modernisation and industrialisation that enabled Russia to eventually counter Germany in WWII and hold its own against constant pressure from the US and its satellite states across Europe and Asia, eventually the loss of moral credibility that Stalin’s paranoid purges and his abrupt changes in doctrine caused led to a great amount of lost international support for one of the most important causes in humanity’s history.
Trotsky’s life itself is fantastic: the resilience and idealism, combined with efficiency, productivity, hard work and fantastic clear sightedness is admirable in the man. He must have been immensely impressive and should be studied by everyone as a great example of a statesman.
His summaries of the character of people, and his vivid description make the book reach literary qualities at some points. Although the last chapters are obviously polemics and very much political – Trotsky must have still hoped that pushing Stalin out of power was possible, and a democratisation of the Bolsheviks could be carried out beneficially – there is plenty of factual and juicy information here, and an exciting, not often provided insight into high politics.
The book also helps one to understand and grasp the main divisive issues that the communist party and the Russian leadership struggled with in the 1920s:
- to aim at international influence (Trotsky) or constrain themselves to activism within Russia (Stalin),
- to force fast industrialisation (Stalin) or to let a more organic and less centralised development carry on (Trotsky, Bukharin) ,
- how much free market activity to allow, and how much to collectivise, put things into state ownership and/or management,
- how to relate to party management – along more democratic lines (Lenin, Trostky), or to use terror and force to gain efficiency and unity, but lose moral credibility (Stalin, Bukharin),
- how to relate to external threats – to follow the US and the UK and try to be a leader and challenger, pushing other countries nonstop to conform to their will (Lenin, Bukharin), or to be a more reactive and defensive power (Stalin).
On many of these issues Trotsky seems to have been right, but on some Stalin was probably on the money, especially concerning the need for rapid industrialisation and for unity in the party. The pressure on Russia from other countries was enormous: just as today, larger economies and political mights used all their weight to try and cut Russia off from the world economy and to engineer unrest, rebellion, discontent, by denying funding, access to loans, medicine, technology, travel, information and so on. These inhumane methods have of course always been used by empires, including the Russian empire of the czars, and we can see their employment by the US, China, and others today in the same vein.
Overall, a very insightful, fantastically rewarding – if a bit long – read. Can only recommend to anyone with serious interests in politics, history, society, or the development of justice, rights and equality.
While Stalin was obviously efficient and a good organiser who oversaw an immense modernisation and industrialisation that enabled Russia to eventually counter Germany in WWII and hold its own against constant pressure from the US and its satellite states across Europe and Asia, eventually the loss of moral credibility that Stalin’s paranoid purges and his abrupt changes in doctrine caused led to a great amount of lost international support for one of the most important causes in humanity’s history.
Trotsky’s life itself is fantastic: the resilience and idealism, combined with efficiency, productivity, hard work and fantastic clear sightedness is admirable in the man. He must have been immensely impressive and should be studied by everyone as a great example of a statesman.
His summaries of the character of people, and his vivid description make the book reach literary qualities at some points. Although the last chapters are obviously polemics and very much political – Trotsky must have still hoped that pushing Stalin out of power was possible, and a democratisation of the Bolsheviks could be carried out beneficially – there is plenty of factual and juicy information here, and an exciting, not often provided insight into high politics.
The book also helps one to understand and grasp the main divisive issues that the communist party and the Russian leadership struggled with in the 1920s:
- to aim at international influence (Trotsky) or constrain themselves to activism within Russia (Stalin),
- to force fast industrialisation (Stalin) or to let a more organic and less centralised development carry on (Trotsky, Bukharin) ,
- how much free market activity to allow, and how much to collectivise, put things into state ownership and/or management,
- how to relate to party management – along more democratic lines (Lenin, Trostky), or to use terror and force to gain efficiency and unity, but lose moral credibility (Stalin, Bukharin),
- how to relate to external threats – to follow the US and the UK and try to be a leader and challenger, pushing other countries nonstop to conform to their will (Lenin, Bukharin), or to be a more reactive and defensive power (Stalin).
On many of these issues Trotsky seems to have been right, but on some Stalin was probably on the money, especially concerning the need for rapid industrialisation and for unity in the party. The pressure on Russia from other countries was enormous: just as today, larger economies and political mights used all their weight to try and cut Russia off from the world economy and to engineer unrest, rebellion, discontent, by denying funding, access to loans, medicine, technology, travel, information and so on. These inhumane methods have of course always been used by empires, including the Russian empire of the czars, and we can see their employment by the US, China, and others today in the same vein.
Overall, a very insightful, fantastically rewarding – if a bit long – read. Can only recommend to anyone with serious interests in politics, history, society, or the development of justice, rights and equality.
January 8, 2024
A moving and inspiring book, that not only tells the story of one of the greatest revolutionaries' life, but also contains many valuable lessons for todays revolutionaries throughout the world. My Life by Trotsky is an absolute must read for every marxist out there.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews