![]() Trotsky lost out to Stalin in the power struggle of the 1920s, and in exile became a severe and knowledgeable critic of his great antagonist thus, for intellectuals with no access to other critics of Stalinism - classical liberal, anarchist, or conservative - Trotsky's writings in the 1930s opened their eyes to some aspects at least of the charnel-house that was Stalin's Russia. As Howe says, "For intellectuals throughout the world there was something fascinating about the spectacle of a man of words transforming himself through sheer will into a man of deeds." ![]() He was second only to Lenin in 1917 in the Civil War he was the leader of the Red Army and the Organizer of Victory. ![]() He had an interest in psychoanalysis and modern developments in physics, and, even when in power, suggested that the new Communist thought-controllers shouldn't be too harsh on writers with such ideas - not exactly a Nat Hentoff position on freedom of expression, but about as good as one can expect among Communists.Ībove all, Trotsky was himself an intellectual, and one who played a great part in what many of that breed have considered to be the real world - the world of revolutionary bloodshed and terror. He was a writer, an occasional literary critic - according to Irving Howe, a very good one - and an historian (of the revolutions of 19). Leon Trotsky has always had a certain appeal for intellectuals that the other Bolshevik leaders lacked. This review originally appeared in Libertarian Review, March 1979.] ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |