Leon Trotsky Speaks [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Leon Trotsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1972

The major political questions of the 20th century, discussed by an outstanding communist leader. Includes a defense of the right to revolution, made in 1906 in the prisoner's dock of the tsarist courts; speeches as a leader of the revolutionary government following the Bolshevik-led revolution; and I Stake My Life, Trotsky's 1937 defense of his 20-year Bolshevik course and challenge to the organizers of Joseph Stalin's frame-up trials.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A collection of Trotsky's speeches and writings spanning the years 1906-40. It attempts to let Trotsky speak for himself about major events in his life ... A number of writings have been translated and published in English here for the first time. Recommended for all libraries." -- Choice

"Lunacharsky described him as 'probably the greatest orator of our age'.... [Leon Trotsky Speaks] sets out to justify the orator's enormous reputation.... [T]he editing and notes ... are graceful, accurate and concise.'' -- Soviet Studies

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: Pathfinder (January 1, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873482220
• ISBN-13: 978-0873482226
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,731,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attests to Trotsky's genius., June 29, 2000

By 

Yuli Martov - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leon Trotsky Speaks (Paperback)

If you're reading this review, you probably already own, or have read some of Trotsky's writings. Which means I don't have to expound to you his genius as a theorist and literary critic. What I will do is explain how this book further displays Trotsky's remarkable abilities.

Most educated people have a rudimentary knowledge of Trotsky's life, and are well aware of the fact he was one of the greatest orators of the twentieth century. But what 'Leon Trotsky Speaks' does, is succintly show the reader "why" Trotsky was a great orator. 'Trotsky speaks' is an anthology of Trotsky's speeches from the first Russian Revolution of 1905, to his years of exile in the 1930's. When I opened the book, I was absolutely dumbfounded by the incredible length of his speeches, every speech of his would take hours to recite, which is remarkable, the longest I can give a speech before having my voice go hoarse is about half-an hour. Not only were his speeches long, they are interesting, just reading the speeches, I realize why audiences were captivated by his words. Although I write from a biased position, being a Trotskist, I highly recommend this book, not only will it improve your understanding of Trotsky's genius, it will also give an aspiring speechwriter a flawless orator to emulate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passion, Reason, Power to find our way out, March 8, 2002

By 

Tony Thomas (SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leon Trotsky Speaks (Paperback)

Trotsky was a great orator, a great writer, but above all he was impassioned by his faith in the power of working people to change the world, a vision he never lost. This is where the power of these great speeches comes from. Read them and learn how to harness that power for today's fights. The speeches here don't appeal to cheap emotion, nor do they appeal to fancy phraseology, they appeal to reason, they appeal to history, they appeal to the power of working people to change the world. Read these speeches not for history, but for how their ideas can be used to fight our way out of the disaster modern capitalism has left the world in, and to find a way out for the peoples in the former Stalinized countries.

5.0 out of 5 stars 'A must' for followers of Leaon Trotosky, September 11, 2011

By 

Ted Mooney - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Leon Trotsky Speaks (Paperback)

I was recommended this book by a friend and fellow thinker.I thought I knew Trotsky's works until I read this book. The book is a a well selelcted series of speeches and articles written by Trotsky in the most formative and active period of his life. The anthologist has cleverly managed to selective the pieces that most adequately represent Trotsky's ideas. It might well have been entitled 'Trotsky made easy.' Thouroughly recommended.

Ted \mooney