Young Stalin

This book provides a thrilling and meticulously researched account of Stalin's formative years.

It details his transformation from a charismatic cobbler's son to a student priest, romantic poet, prolific lover, gangster mastermind, and murderous revolutionary.

Montefiore draws on revelatory research, including previously unread archival material from Russia and Georgia, to offer a vivid psychological portrait of Stalin.

The book explores his early life, his involvement in bank robberies and revolutionary activities, and his complex relationships with figures like Lenin, set against the backdrop of the violent and clannish culture of Georgia.