Leon Trotsky: Historical Personalities of the 20th Century

This book offers a detailed examination of Trotsky's career and the contributions he made to the Soviet Union, both as a participant and later as a critic.

Fourteen chapters cover the span of Trotsky's life - from his early life and rise to prominence, to the major achievements of his political career and his decline and assassination in 1940. The final chapter considers different historical interpretations of Leon Trotsky and explains the debate surrounding key controversies in his career.

Features of the book include:

A. Each chapter contains:
a timeline of major events
a glossary of terms
chapter review questions
an array of original images

B. Source investigations are included to provide students with an opportunity to critically reflect on the major issues in Trotsky's life and career:
Trotsky's early life (1879-1899)
Trotsky's rise to prominence (1905-1917)
Trotsky's political career (1917-1922)
Trotsky's struggle for power (1922-1928)
Trotsky's last exile (1929-1940)

C. Extended response questions and essay questions for a range of student abilities are also included.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Formative years (1879 - 1896)
Chapter 2 Political awakening (1896 - 1899)
Chapter 3 Life as an emigre (1900 - 1904)
Chapter 4 Dress rehearsal for revolution (1905 - 1907)
Chapter 5 European sojourn (1907 - 1915)
Chapter 6 The prelude to revolution (1916 - 1917)
Chapter 7 Hero of the revolution (July - October 1917)
Chapter 8 The problem of peace (1917 - 1918)
Chapter 9 Saviour of the revolution (1918 - 1920)
Chapter 10 Consolidating the Revolution (1918 - 1923)
Chapter 11 Trotsky in decline (1924 - 1928)
Chapter 12 A permanent exile (1928 - 1937)
Chapter 12 The final years (1937 - 1940)
Chapter 12 Leon Trotsky - controversies and debates