Stalin: an unknown portrait

"This volume contains new information about Stalin's actual and political "family", the Kremlin Mafia and the clans around him. The author has interviewed key politicians who survived the Stalin era, including officials of the KGB and the Party, as well as people who had personal contact with the dictator as secretaries or interpreters. Kun's special expertise and his access to archival sources in Russia have resulted in a work revealing jealously guarded secrets." "In addition to the interviews and hitherto unpublished correspondence between Stalin, Molotov, Voroshilov, Mikoyan, Zhdanov and others, the book also contains a fascinating collection of over 300 photos of Stalin, his family members, and various political actors of the period. Extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index of names add to the value of the volume."--Jacket.

The childhood of Soso -- Why Soso Dzhugashvili dropped out of the seminar -- "Comrade Koba" enters the scene -- The past rewritten -- Why Stalin was called a "mail-coach robber" -- Escape and love -- Everyday life in the underground movement -- Why learn foreign languages? -- Wanted, a theoretician -- The last period in exile -- Kira Alliluyeva -- The Alliluyev grandparents -- Nadezhda Alliluyeva -- Competition for the widowed Stalin -- All the Soviet world is a stage -- Aleksei Tolstoy, the Soviet count -- Expulsion from paradise -- Polina Zhemchuzhina -- Anastas Mikoyan -- Avel Yenukidze -- A correspondance discovered -- The threat of war -- Yakov Dzhugashvili -- "Red Vaska" -- The young general in prison -- Anna Alliliyeva -- Fyodor Alliluyev -- Pavel Alliluyev -- The destruction of the Svanidze family -- False medical reports -- Yevgenia Alliluyeva -- Vladimir prison years -- "He was an evil man, the wretch."