E. A. Rees is a specialist in Russian/Soviet history, and has published three monographs and ten edited volumes on the development of the Soviet political system. Formerly Professor of Eastern European History at the European University of Florence, he is currently a reader in Russian and Soviet history at the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham.

List of Figures; Introduction; Chapter 1. The Making of a Bolshevik, 1893-1917; Chapter 2. Red Terror and Civil War, 1918-1921; Chapter 3. Building the Monolithic Party, 1922-1927; Chapter 4. Ukrainian Party Boss, 1925-1928; Chapter 5. The Triumph of the Stalin Faction, 1928-1929; Chapter 6. Revolution from Above, 1928-1935; Chapter 7. Stalin's Deputy, 1930-1935; Chapter 8. Moscow Party Boss, 1930-1935; Chapter 9. Boss of Rail Transport, 1935-1937; Chapter 10. Political and Social Revolution through Terror, 1936-1938; Chapter 11. The Man; Chapter 12. The Despot's Creature, 1939-1953; Chapter 13. De-Stalinization and Nemesis, 1953-1991; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Name Index; Subject Index