Trotsky's biography of Stalin published in Soviet Union

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Walnut Publishing Company has received copies of the first publication in the Soviet Union of Leon Trotsky's biography of Stalin. The issuing of this book is an event of major importance.

"Stalin" has been published in two volumes in an edition of 100,000 by Terra Publishers, who earlier published the four-volume "Archives of Trotsky: The Communist Opposition in the USSR 1923-1927" (see Socialist Action, August 1990).

"Stalin" was the book Trotsky was working on at the time of his assassination by an agent of Stalin. Written during Trotsky's exile from the Soviet Union, it represents his mature political thought on the phenomenon of Stalinism. He had already come to the conclusion that a political revolution was necessary in the USSR and had founded the Fourth International.

To have a work from this period of Trotsky's life published in the USSR is a major step forward in reclaiming the history of the Soviet Union. It will bring to the Soviet masses the tools necessary for an understanding of the bureaucracy and the necessity of completely overthrowing it. Furthermore, the biography of Stalin-written by the man that the dictator tried to write 'In 1991, only Russian readers can actually read La version of 'Stalin' that is purely Trotsky's.

out of history—will have great popular appeal.

Walnut Publishing Company is proud to have helped in this publication. Yuri Felshtinsky, who compiled this Russian edition of "Stalin," told us, "Walnut Publishing Company's help was essential in having 'Stalin' published in a timely manner. Thank you!"

Readers may remember that, at the time of Trotsky's assassination, in a final form. Charles Malamuth, who had been hired as the English translator, then "completed" the second volume, interpolating many ideas opposed to Trotsky's thinking.

At the time, this was vigorously protested by Natalia Trotsky (Leon Trotsky's wife). But the work was published anyway by Harper & Brothers (the two Russian volumes were published as one in English). Pioneer Publishers, the major English-language publisher of Trotsky at that time, even went so far as to paste a disclaimer in the copies they distributed.

This Russian edition of "Stalin" is completely Trotsky's written text. Dr. Felshtinsky, working with the Trotsky archives, put together the second volume by using Trotsky's outline for the work and only Trotsky's words.

So now, in 1991, only Russian readers can actually read a version of "Stalin" that is purely Trotsky's.

All those who have contributed to the Trotsky Fund can be proud of having helped in this historic event-the first mass publication, not only in the Soviet Union but in any country-of a publication of "Stalin" faithful to Trotsky's ideas.

The Trotsky Fund was set up by Walnut Publishing Company to assist in the publication of Trotsky's works in the Soviet Union.

Much more waits to be done. Please help by mailing checks to: Trotsky Fund/Walnut Publishing Co., 3435 Army St. #308, San Francisco, CA 94110.

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