Stalin's Daughter

Viac o knihe

This meticulously researched biography reveals the life of Svetlana Stalin, a woman overshadowed by her father, the notorious dictator Josef Stalin. Growing up in the early Soviet Union, she enjoyed privileges within the Kremlin, shielded from the widespread famine and purges. However, tragedy marked her life, as she lost her mother, two brothers, a lover exiled to Siberia, and other loved ones. After her father's death, Svetlana uncovered the full extent of his brutality, leading her to defect to the United States in 1967, leaving behind her two children. Despite her separation from her father's regime, she could not escape his legacy. Her American life was tumultuous; she frequently moved, faced disastrous marriages, and distanced herself from fellow Russian exiles, ultimately dying in poverty in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Drawing from KGB, CIA, and Soviet archives, along with insights from Svetlana's daughter, the author crafts an intimate portrait of her extraordinary life. This biography not only chronicles the struggles of a woman trapped by her father's name but also sheds light on a closed, brutal world that continues to captivate.