‘Political biography at its best… This is a splendid book, much the best that I have ever read about Lenin… I was overwhelmed by the power and vividness of this portrait.’
‘Robert Service has set out to add flesh – and especially feelings – to the existing image… Lenin’s life was politics, but Service has succeeded in keeping Lenin the man in focus throughout… This book deserves a place among the best studies of one of the most fascinating figures in modern history.’
‘The great strength of this remarkable book is the author’s ability to blend the personal history with a convincing analysis of the Lenin oeuvre and a confident reconstruction of the wider political and social milieu of Russia in the age of revolution.’
‘It succeeds triumphantly in portraying the relationship of Lenin as a person to his historic achievement… splendid biography.’
‘This impressive biography… draws on a wealth of new material to provide a subtle and complex portrait of a man who is, too often, either deified as omniscient revolutionary saint, or demonized as bloodthirsty megalomaniac.’
‘Service has played an important role in uncovering the Kremlin’s secrets since he was granted access to its archives.’
‘On the personal detail, Service is unbeatable.’