Read Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s “Gulag Archipelago” Vols. I-III. It is a tremendous, eye opening, first person account of Stalin’s 700 “destructive” labor camps throughout the Soviet Union, designed for one purpose, death to enemies of the state. Solzhenitsyn himself, an officer is the Soviet Army during the Second World War, made the mistake of criticizing Stalin in a letter home to his family. The KGB reviewed mail of personnel from time to time, came across his letter, and sent him to Siberia, expecting him to die. He survived. Another great book, later made into a movie about the same experience, was “Onr Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich” talk about depressing. A tiresome defender of Christianity and Freedom, who paid his dues and is now residing with his Redeemer. RIP.
Written by a survivor of Stalin's political paranoia. Funny thing is, many of the political prisoners were still praising Stalin as they were being shipped off in box cars to slave labor camps. Great conditioning.
I would have called him "tireless" myself.
But "Ivan" is a 2-evening read -- maximum -- and it is a remarkable book.
““One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich””
People can say what they will about Putin, but he’s requiring all high school students to read that book. I only wish that American kids were also required to read it.
The book is absolutely legendary. Once it came out (when Khrushchev backed off a bit on censorship), it ended the concept of the Gulag (at least on anything near the scale that Stalin did it). The people now knew the truth and simply would not put up with that crap anymore.