"It is not heroes that make history, but history that makes heroes."

Stephen Kotkin'sKotkin's Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, 1878–1928, is the first volume in a projected three-part biography of one of the most notorious figures of the 20th Century. Kotkin, a distinguished historian, presents a meticulously researched and fascinating account of Joseph Stalin's early life, rise to power, and consolidation of authority by 1928. The work stands out for its depth and the broader historical context in which Stalin's story is situated, making it more than just a biography.

The book spans Stalin's early years in Georgia, his path to revolutionary Marxism, and his role in the Bolshevik revolution, focusing heavily on his political manoeuvrings within the Communist Party. How did a cobbler's son who was not even ethnic Russian become one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century? A man who joked that WW II was fought with American money and machines and Russian soldiers. The Soviet Union had a mind-boggling 27 million soldiers killed in action and many more wounded, all under the mercurial leadership of Stalin. The German army, by far the most efficient of all belligerents, was simply overwhelmed by numbers and resources. Stalin was ruthless in his wartime strategies, willing to sacrifice millions to protect the state and secure victory. His ability to marshal resources and rally the Soviet people, despite early catastrophic losses, was crucial for defeating Hitler. He famously said that the death of one man is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic.

Stalin's policies, particularly his Five-Year Plans, played a pivotal role in transforming the Soviet Union from a largely agrarian society into a significant industrial power. Under Stalin's leadership, the Soviet Union underwent rapid industrialisation in the 1930s, which enabled it to produce the machinery, steel, and infrastructure needed for a modern economy.

Stalin is a controversial figure and a ruthless one at that. What worked for him were clarity of mind and an ability to stay adaptable. Everything and everyone was expedient. He comes across as a man with no scruples or values and a questionable personal legacy. He created a super power though.