Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78001 in Books
• Published on: 1987-11-01
• Original language: Russian
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 372 pages

Customer Reviews

This is the essential Lenin
The book incorporates The Development of Capitalism in Russia, What is to be Done?, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, The State and Revolution, there is also a biographical index of people mentioned within the text and recommended further reading, there is good introduction by Henry M. Christman which hasnt aged badly.

The Development of Capitalism in Russia illustrates debates that were taking place about whether or not a revolution would be appropriate or feasible in Russia due to its lack of industrialisation, What is to be Done? is a tactical screed, Imperialism speculates that economies in crisis will resort to imperial campaigns to secure further growth and stability, while state and revolution focuses upon what Marx had to say about the Paris Commune, what the withering away of the state would entail and sets out a stall entirely opposed to all western political institutions what so ever, suggesting that socialists should only participate in politics or parliaments in order to destroy them.

It's great to see all these essays in a single volume, Lenin was essentially a second hand dealer in ideas but he sure did know how to use a turn of phrase or aphorism, like to "throw out the baby with the bath water" or the "tail wagging the dog", the introduction pulls no punches in illuminating just how much of Lenin's writing was given over to attempting to destroy people he perceived as opposition and alienating their support.

All in all it doesnt create the impression of someone who wouldnt stoop from doing whatever he deemed necessary for the sake of personal power and I personally think that there's a pretty obvious authoritarian streek through most of the writing, other than State and Revolution, which, like the essay's on the Paris Commune by Marx, are strangely libertarian.