A review by lokster71
Dictator Literature: A History of Despots Through Their Writing by Daniel Kalder
4.0
This is an excellent book about terrible human beings writing terrible books. I've actually read a handful of the books he talks about and have to agree with some of his conclusions. I also like Kalder's dry wit.
Kalder's strongest I think on Lenin, Stalin and the importance of the written word and theory in building a power base in their party & then how that gradually stagnated and helped - indirectly perhaps - to kill the USSR. He also talks about Mao, Mussolini, Hitler and others. Having read Mein Kampf a long time ago when at university I found that chapter particularly interesting.
Definitely worth a read, especially as Kalder gives historical context to both the writers and their writing (and how it was received.)
Kalder's strongest I think on Lenin, Stalin and the importance of the written word and theory in building a power base in their party & then how that gradually stagnated and helped - indirectly perhaps - to kill the USSR. He also talks about Mao, Mussolini, Hitler and others. Having read Mein Kampf a long time ago when at university I found that chapter particularly interesting.
Definitely worth a read, especially as Kalder gives historical context to both the writers and their writing (and how it was received.)