Lenin (Biography)

Vladimir Llyich Lenin, who died in 1924 at the age of fifty-four went through two distinct periods in this political life. He spent twenty years in exile building the Communist Party and dreaming of the revolution, which eventually took place in his absence. But only eight months later, he gained total power; within four years he had reshaped an empire, created a global revolutionary party, and established a regime that would last seventy years. How can we explain the conquest and preservation of power by a party that originated with only a few thousand members in such a vast country? How can the longevity and global influence of Leninism be explained? In spite of the horrifying death toll of Lenin's regime, one must admit to his political genius. Of the heads of state in the twentieth century who saw themselves as saviours of their people either from Communism (Hitler, Franco, Ho Chi Minh) or in its name (Stalin, Mao, Salazar) only Lenin did not fall from his pedestal as soon as death had reduced him to silence.