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Stalin: The History of a Dictator
The History of a Dictator. 32 tav f.t. . 8vo pp. 680 Rilegato tela, sovracoperta (cloth, dust jacket) Molto buono (Very Good)
679 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1971
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
H. Montgomery Hyde
69 books10 followersHarford Montgomery Hyde was born on 14 August 1907 in Belfast, the son of James Johnstone Hyde and Isobel Greenfield (née Montgomery). He was educated at Sedbergh School; Queen's University, Belfast (where he gained a first class History degree); then at Magdalen College Oxford (where he gained a second class law degree). He was called to the bar in 1934. From 1935-1939, Hyde was librarian and Private Secretary to the 7th Marquess of Londonderry. In 1939 he married Dorothy Mabel Brayshaw Crofts (divorced 1952).
During World War II, Hyde held several positions. He served as an Assistant Censor in Gibraltar (1940) and was commissioned in the intelligence corps and engaged in counter-espionage work in the United States under Sir William Stephenson, Director of British Security Co-ordination in the Western Hemisphere (whose life Hyde published as "The Quiet Canadian" in 1962). He was also Military Liaison and Security Officer, Bermuda (1940-41); Assistant Passport Control Officer, New York (1941-2); with British Army Staff, USA (1942-4); attached to the Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (1944) and then to the Allied Commission for Austria (1944-5).
Hyde was the Assistant Editor of the Law Reports (1946-7), then Legal Adviser to the British Lion Film Corporation Ltd (1947-9). From 1950-59 he was a Unionist MP for East Belfast and was the UK Delegate to the Council of Europe Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg (1952-5). From 1958-61 Hyde was an Honorary Colonel of the Intelligence Corps (Territorial Army), Northern Ireland. After losing his parliamentary seat, Hyde was Professor of History and Political Science at the University of the Punjab in Lahore (1959-61).
In 1955, Hyde married his second wife Mary Eleanor Fischer. The marriage was dissolved in 1966 and he married Rosalind Roberts Dimond. He died on August 10 1989.
Hyde wrote a great many books on a wide variety of subjects including "The Rise of Castlereagh" (1933); "The Quiet Canadian" (1962); "Cynthia" (1962) and "Secret Intelligence Agent" (1982).
The held at Churchill Archives Centre chiefly consist of the papers and letters Montgomery Hyde collected and generated in the course of writing three of his books: "The Quiet Canadian" (a biography of Sir William Stephenson, Director of British Security Co-ordination in the Western Hemisphere, 1940-46); "Cynthia" (a biography of the British agent Elizabeth (Pack) Brousse); and "Secret Intelligence Agent" (which included descriptions of his own wartime experiences). The collection also includes papers and letters relating to Hyde's work in Censorship and Security in Gibraltar, Bermuda and the USA during the Second World War; and in the legal division of the Allied Control Commission in Austria.
During World War II, Hyde held several positions. He served as an Assistant Censor in Gibraltar (1940) and was commissioned in the intelligence corps and engaged in counter-espionage work in the United States under Sir William Stephenson, Director of British Security Co-ordination in the Western Hemisphere (whose life Hyde published as "The Quiet Canadian" in 1962). He was also Military Liaison and Security Officer, Bermuda (1940-41); Assistant Passport Control Officer, New York (1941-2); with British Army Staff, USA (1942-4); attached to the Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (1944) and then to the Allied Commission for Austria (1944-5).
Hyde was the Assistant Editor of the Law Reports (1946-7), then Legal Adviser to the British Lion Film Corporation Ltd (1947-9). From 1950-59 he was a Unionist MP for East Belfast and was the UK Delegate to the Council of Europe Consultative Assembly in Strasbourg (1952-5). From 1958-61 Hyde was an Honorary Colonel of the Intelligence Corps (Territorial Army), Northern Ireland. After losing his parliamentary seat, Hyde was Professor of History and Political Science at the University of the Punjab in Lahore (1959-61).
In 1955, Hyde married his second wife Mary Eleanor Fischer. The marriage was dissolved in 1966 and he married Rosalind Roberts Dimond. He died on August 10 1989.
Hyde wrote a great many books on a wide variety of subjects including "The Rise of Castlereagh" (1933); "The Quiet Canadian" (1962); "Cynthia" (1962) and "Secret Intelligence Agent" (1982).
The held at Churchill Archives Centre chiefly consist of the papers and letters Montgomery Hyde collected and generated in the course of writing three of his books: "The Quiet Canadian" (a biography of Sir William Stephenson, Director of British Security Co-ordination in the Western Hemisphere, 1940-46); "Cynthia" (a biography of the British agent Elizabeth (Pack) Brousse); and "Secret Intelligence Agent" (which included descriptions of his own wartime experiences). The collection also includes papers and letters relating to Hyde's work in Censorship and Security in Gibraltar, Bermuda and the USA during the Second World War; and in the legal division of the Allied Control Commission in Austria.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 7, 2017
This was a very informative biography of brutal dictator Joseph Stalin. It's hard to believe that he was our ally, but we didn't have much of a choice during WWII.
This book is pretty old, published in 1971, and I imagine that a lot more information about Stalin has come out since then. Nonetheless, it was available at my library, and it was just the right length I was looking for at 611 pages. (I recently read a massive two-volume biography of Hitler, and I didn't want to spend that much time with Stalin after several months with Hitler. These are not pleasant fellows to get to know.)
Other reviews have mentioned that there are typos, and there are, but it's not hard to get past them. The hardest part of reading this is keeping track of all the Russian names. I couldn't always do that, but my focus was really on Stalin himself, not on all the people he knew . . . and killed.
Recommended, unless you absolutely must have a more up-to-date biography of Stalin.
This book is pretty old, published in 1971, and I imagine that a lot more information about Stalin has come out since then. Nonetheless, it was available at my library, and it was just the right length I was looking for at 611 pages. (I recently read a massive two-volume biography of Hitler, and I didn't want to spend that much time with Stalin after several months with Hitler. These are not pleasant fellows to get to know.)
Other reviews have mentioned that there are typos, and there are, but it's not hard to get past them. The hardest part of reading this is keeping track of all the Russian names. I couldn't always do that, but my focus was really on Stalin himself, not on all the people he knew . . . and killed.
Recommended, unless you absolutely must have a more up-to-date biography of Stalin.
November 3, 2022
I liked hearing about Stalin's early life possibly the abuse of his fathers alcoholic rage the fueled his demons and made him not believe in god I didn't know he believed in Darwin's evolution theories until I read ..working his way up the party front lines being jailed traveling to different parts of Europe being denied by the polish for being Russian meeting Lenin who later on didn't trust him with power..killing off most of the old Bolsheviks his paranoia erupting etc..good book
August 22, 2014
Likewise, I had little interest in reading a biography about Stalin as I did reading Mein kampf Written By Hitler. I figured I knew the results of their abominations and crimes against God and Mankind, and that through reading historical writings on WW II, that was good enough for me. For instance I have absolutely no interest in reading about Jeffery Dahmer, Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy or any other demented killers.
I read Mein Kampf for certain answers:
1) was it a foreshadow of upcoming events
2) Was the harshness of treatise after Germany's defeat after WW II cause of Hitler's rise to power
3) Why didn't the Allied Nations take stronger steps to Keep Germany accountable for adhering to the Treatise.
when I think about the aftermath of WW II, What Stalin was able to achieve in his negotiations of Post War Divisions with The BIG THREE, I still don't understand why he ended up with essentially everything that Germany Conquered, that the war was fought over.
Did Churchill and especially FDR forget that Stalin signed an non-aggression (friendship) pact with Hitler. When Germany invaded one part of Poland, Russia invaded the other part. As for as I am Concerned Stalin should of been Treated as if he was Hitler, They were twins from different parents. How Could the world Produce two ruthless killers at the same junction of history.
Churchill and FDR originally wanted the post war boundaries to be almost the same as before the war. until a sick and Dying FDR sided with Stalin to the chagrin of Churchill. Only when Truman entered into the negotiations were they able to stymie Stalin's demands.
This was actually a very educational read, well researched, and extremely interesting, I am glad I read it. it gave me a different view of !900-1953 Russia. According to the Author, and I find this hard to believe, That their have been more books written about Stalin than any other historical figures, including Napoleon and Jesus Christ.
I highly recommend this book for WW II and Russian History Buffs.
My only caution is that there are more typos than in any book I can remember reading.
I read Mein Kampf for certain answers:
1) was it a foreshadow of upcoming events
2) Was the harshness of treatise after Germany's defeat after WW II cause of Hitler's rise to power
3) Why didn't the Allied Nations take stronger steps to Keep Germany accountable for adhering to the Treatise.
when I think about the aftermath of WW II, What Stalin was able to achieve in his negotiations of Post War Divisions with The BIG THREE, I still don't understand why he ended up with essentially everything that Germany Conquered, that the war was fought over.
Did Churchill and especially FDR forget that Stalin signed an non-aggression (friendship) pact with Hitler. When Germany invaded one part of Poland, Russia invaded the other part. As for as I am Concerned Stalin should of been Treated as if he was Hitler, They were twins from different parents. How Could the world Produce two ruthless killers at the same junction of history.
Churchill and FDR originally wanted the post war boundaries to be almost the same as before the war. until a sick and Dying FDR sided with Stalin to the chagrin of Churchill. Only when Truman entered into the negotiations were they able to stymie Stalin's demands.
This was actually a very educational read, well researched, and extremely interesting, I am glad I read it. it gave me a different view of !900-1953 Russia. According to the Author, and I find this hard to believe, That their have been more books written about Stalin than any other historical figures, including Napoleon and Jesus Christ.
I highly recommend this book for WW II and Russian History Buffs.
My only caution is that there are more typos than in any book I can remember reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews