What books/websites/anything else should I start with to learn about Lenin/Russian history?

Question

Wasn't exactly sure how to title this, but I tried. I am very interested in Russian/Eastern European history, pretty much anything that is Marx, Tsarist regime, Russian revolution, Lenin, Stalin, russia's part in ww1 and 2, fall of the ussr, all of that. I must, however, admit that I am incredibly ignorant on the subject(s). My question is to anyone who knows anything about this, where do I start in learning about this? Marx? Is he kind of step one here? I am particularly interested in Lenin and his politics, but i have a feeling it at least couldn't hurt to have some knowledge of Marx before I try to understand Lenin. I am sure there is tons of information online about this, links would be very much appreciated. I am, though, a big reader, so actual books I could get would be even better. Suggestion, anyone? Guidance to how I should go about this? Thanks much in advance.

Answer 1

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To start I would go for Marx - a very short introduction by Peter Singer. This is part of a series aimed at beginners so assumes no prior knowledge of the subject. On the internet check out marxists.org, they have loads of articles on Marx and related subjects including Marx's original texts.

There are many short books on Lenin and the Russian Revolution such as Christopher Hill's which is worth a look. The more recent Lenin - a new biography is much longer but very worthwhile as the author had access to previously unavailable archival material.

For WW2 I can recommend Stalingrad by Antony Beevor, Leningrad by Anna Reid and A Writer at War: Vasily Grossman with the Red Army 1941-1945.

Source(s): http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/he/subject/Sociology... http://www.marxists.org/ http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(book) http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/25/lening... http://www.antonybeevor.com/index.php/previous-boo... http://evatt.org.au/papers/vale-christopher-hill.h... http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_Volkogonov

Answer 2

Start with

'The Communist Manifesto' by Marx and Engels

and

Lenin's own 'What is to be Done?'