Trotsky: A Biography

Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize, an acclaimed portrait of Leon Trotsky from one of the finest scholars of modern and Soviet era Russia.

‘An outstanding, fascinating biography of this dazzling titan’ – Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Daily Telegraph

Trotsky lived a brilliant life in extraordinary times. A pioneering radical politician, theorist, and icon of the Russian Revolution, he is commonly portrayed by his followers as a pure revolutionary soul and powerful intellect unjustly hounded into exile by Stalin and his henchmen.

Robert Service draws upon a wealth of material from previously unexamined archives to craft a vivid biography of this colossal figure, challenging traditionally held views and assumptions. Spanning from Trotsky’s childhood as part of a Jewish farming family to the years of his banishment, Trotsky: A Biography simultaneously chronicles his role in some of the biggest moments in Russian history: the October Revolution, the establishment of the Red Army, the Civil War.

A thoroughly engaging and balanced account, it moves beyond Trotsky’s public persona, painting a rich picture of a sparkling writer, ‘ladies’ man’, philosopher of everyday life and grand seigneur of his household. Robert Service’s research and profound understanding of Russian history combine in this masterful and compelling biography of the man and his legacy.

‘Exemplary’ – Robert Harris, The Sunday Times

Discover more acclaimed biographies from Robert Service: Stalin and Lenin.