Molotov Remembers : Inside Kremlin Politics
- Book Review,
by V. M. Molotov
From Library Journal
Molotov was a central (and often sinister) figure in Soviet politics until his expulsion from the Central Committee in 1957. A foreign minister during World War II and an influential policy-maker in the early days of the Cold War, he was considered Stalin's right-hand man. His memoirs, compiled from a series of 139 conversations with the Russian writer Chuev between 1969 and Molotov's death in 1986, were first published in Moscow in 1991 to great acclaim. Molotov reveals the inner workings of the Soviet system, providing much new information about decisions, events, and prominent personalities. Historian Resis has attached an introductory overview on Molotov's career and importance and has also provided brief notes to each of the book's four major sections--International Affairs, With Lenin, With Stalin, and Since Stalin. A chronology of events from 1890 to 1986 is appended. Indispensable for all Soviet history collections.- Thomas A. Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, Pa.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
V.M. Molotov (1890-1986) rose to power with Lenin, serving briefly as the USSR's premier before Stalin's ascent and then as foreign minister during Stalin's reign and afterward. Like his masters, he left no official memoir--but in 1969, he held 140 conversations with Soviet poet and biographer Felix Chuev, who recorded the talks in a diary. Here, intelligently organized by Resis (History/Northern Illinois University), are extracts of the conversations--the most extensive overview ever available by a Bolshevik founding father of the Soviet Union's youth and middle age. Resis divides and groups the Q&As between Chuev and Molotov into four sections: ``International Affairs,'' ``With Lenin,'' ``With Stalin,'' and ``After Stalin.'' The subjects range from the personal (during Stalin's rule, ``We ate Siberian fish rather often at Stalin's place. White salmon...frozen, with garlic and vodka, raw...Beria would also bring grits, corn, and, in particular, certain kinds of cheese...'') to the global (during WW II, Churchill ``hated us and tried to use us. But we used him, too. We made him work with us''). What comes through most forcefully is the ruthlessness of the Soviet leaders (``Lenin was implacable when the Revolution...was at stake,'' says Molotov, implicating the Bolshevik leader in the execution of the Czar and his family; ``I believe [that in the 1930's] we had to pass through a period of error....Beria on his own could not have done it. He carried out the orders, very harsh orders issued by Stalin'')--including Molotov himself: ``Stalin, in my opinion, pursued a correct line: let innocent heads roll, but there will be no wavering....'' An important resource for future Soviet studies, Molotov's words also provide a mesmerizing and chilling chronicle of how the Marxist dream mutated into the Soviet nightmare--and of how power, once again, corrupted absolutely. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Book News, Inc.
Over a period of 17 years before his death in 1986, V.M. Molotov (best known in the West as Soviet foreign minister during WWII and the Cold War, but also Stalin's predecessor as premier) held 140 in-depth conversations with the poet and biographer Felix Chuev. These conversations comprise a unique "memoir" of the political history of the Soviet Union. Translated from the Russian edition of 1991, and edited with an introduction and notes by Albert Resis. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
David Remnick, author of Lenin’s Tomb
Of the spate of memoirs published, the most valuable may be Molotov’s...should be published in every language.
Arnold Beichman, The Washington Times
An important book, the same way Mein Kampf or Mao’s Red Book are important...grippingly vivid.
New York Times Book Review
Offers real insight into top level Stalinist politics...
Woodford McClellan, University of Virginia
Eerily fascinating...Probably the best—most accurate and useful to history—insider account we will ever have.
Book Description
In conversations with the poet-biographer Felix Chuev, Molotov offers an incomparable view of the politics of Soviet society and the nature of Kremlin leadership under communism.
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian
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