Everyday Stalinism

This book provides a detailed portrayal of life in Soviet Russia during the 1930s, focusing on the urban population and their experiences under Stalin's regime.

Fitzpatrick explores the themes of privation, overcrowding, endless lines, and broken homes, as well as the constant surveillance by the secret police and the waves of terror, including the Great Purges of 1937.

The book delves into how ordinary citizens attempted to live 'normal lives' amidst chronic shortages, social upheaval, and political terror, and how they developed strategies for physical, emotional, and psychological survival.

It also examines the impact of Stalinism on various aspects of Soviet society, including family life, the role of the Communist Party, and the system of popular surveillance and denunciation.