Although Trotsky was dramatically assassinated just over eighty years ago, he remains a controversial figure. He has had many biographers over the decades - ranging from the overly-sympathetic, to the extremely-hostile. Robert Service, his most recent biographer, expressed the hope that his book would finish off' Trotsky - a job he believed the ice-axe had failed to do in 1940! This biography, as expected, deals with those aspects for which Trotsky is noted: his passionate and fiery oratory which captivated and inspired huge crowds; organising the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917; masterminding the creation of the Red Army and ensuring its victory during the Civil War; becoming the most determined opponent of Stalin's creation of a monolithic party and state; being a Marxist theoretician of socialist revolution and combatting fascism; and, of course, being the originator of the very specific brand of revolutionary socialism that, as early as 1906, became known as Trotskyism. However, this biography also explores other aspects of Trotsky's life which are not so well-known. In particular, from a very early age, his love of writing: the world of books and publishing became his first passion; it remained his first love and, if revolutionary politics had not taken over, his life would have been a very literary one. Immediately after the November Revolution, he hoped to return to his literary work, believing his main practical work as a revolutionary was over. His writings on art and literature, when compared to the stultifying strictures of the Socialist Realism' associated with Stalinism, are remarkably sympathetic and open; while he also wrote many perceptive articles as a war correspondent, covering both the Balkan Wars and the early stages of the First World War. Other aspects covered by this biography concern his family life, and his relationships with his children. Also explored is his love-life - while it is known he had a brief affair with the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, there are also suggestions he may have had other affairs. Whatever the truth of such allegations, he certainly maintained a passionate relationship with his long-term companion, Natalya Sedova; and readers should be aware that one proof of that, provided towards the end of this book, contains very explicit language.

Engaging students and inspiring success. Tailored to the new OCR GCSE History A: Schools History Project specification, this Student Book offers a comprehensive focus on building the skills needed to prepare students for the exam from day one. It is endorsed by OCR for use with the new OCR History A: Schools History Project specification, and written in digestible chunks and in full colour to motivate students through each topic. Our unique Exam Cafe feature is included which enables students to prepare for their exams through a range of revision tools, helping them to get the most out of their revision time. Grade Studio also offers clear advice to help students improve their performance.

Democracies and Dictatorships provides a foundation for the study of the world's political landscape in the twentieth century. It addresses the issues and themes critical to an understanding of the major developments of the period. The topics covered include: international relations between 1919–1939, the USSR 1924–1953, the Cold War in Europe 1945–1989 and the Cold War in Asia and the Americas 1949–1975.Democracies and Dictatorships is part of the Cambridge Perspectives in History series. The book matches the requirements of the OCR examination specifications. It is suitable for all Advanced Subsidiary (AS) students, as well as students and undergraduates needing an introduction to the period.

Allan Todd provides a lucid exploration of the main features of revolutions: the economic, social, political and ideological developments prior to the revolution, and the roles and actions of crowds, parties, women and counter-revolutionaries. Particular attention is paid to the French Revolution of 1789, and the 1848 Revolutions, the 1871 Paris Commune and the Russian Revolution of 1917.