Synopses & Reviews
Trotsky was a hero to some, a ruthless demon to others. To Stalin, he was such a threat that he warranted murder by pickax. This polarizing figure set up a world conflict that lasted through the twentieth century, and in Trotsky: A Graphic Biography, the renowned comic artist Rick Geary uses his distinct style to depict the stark reality of the man and his times. Trotskys life becomes a guide to the creation of the Soviet Union, the horrors of World War I, and the establishment of international communism as he, Lenin, and their fellow Bolsheviks rise from persecution and a life underground to the height of political power. Ranging from his boyhood in the Ukraine to his fallout with Stalin and his moonlight romance with Frida Kahlo, Trotsky is a stunning look at one of the twentieth centurys most important thinkers and the far-reaching political trends that he launched.
Rick Geary is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator. His most recent projects include
J. Edgar Hoover: A Graphic Biography and his continuing graphic series,
A Treasury of Victorian Murder and
A Treasury of XXth Century Murder. He has worked for Marvel Entertainment Group, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and
Heavy Metal, and has contributed to
National Lampoon and
The New York Times Book Review.
An American Library Association Great Graphic Novel for Teens NomineeThis polarizing figure set up a world conflict that lasted through the twentieth century, and in Trotsky: A Graphic Biography, the renowned comic artist Rick Geary uses his distinct style to depict the stark reality of the man who was a hero to some, a ruthless demon to others. Trotskys life becomes a guide to the creation of the Soviet Union, the horrors of World War I, and the establishment of international communism as he, Lenin, and their fellow Bolsheviks rise from persecution and a life underground to the height of political power. Ranging from his boyhood in the Ukraine to his fallout with Stalin and his moonlight romance with Frida Kahlo, Trotsky is a stunning look at one of the twentieth centurys most important thinkers and the far-reaching political trends that he launched. A concise and powerful overview of one of the twentieth centurys most influential people.”Michael Lorah, Newsarama.com A concise and powerful overview of one of the twentieth centurys most influential people.”Michael Lorah, Newsarama.com
Geary ably distills the events that occupied many hundreds of pages written by Marxist historian Isaac Deutscher and Trotsky himself, touching on such matters as the idea of permanent revolution and the impossibility of socialism in one country. Geary traces Trotsky's evolution from farm boy to bookish adolescent to revolutionary to Bolshevik strategist. He also provides a solid, if necessarily brief, account of the rivalry that developed between Trotsky, desirous of power, and Joseph Stalin, even more so, and the unhappy conclusion to which that rivalry eventually led . . . Trotsky, veteran of tsarist prisons and armored trains, got to dally with Frida Kahlo for a few happy moments before the endbut that end is plenty graphic, so to speak, and Geary does not shy from depicting it. A swift-moving, generally accurate view of Trotsky's life, guaranteed to send orthodox Stalinists into fits.”Kirkus Reviews An ace at history in comics form, Geary turns here to the Russian revolution as seen through the life of Leon Trotsky.”Steve Weinberg, Booklist
"A principle architect and hero of the Russian Revolution, then a pariah and exile under Stalin, Leon Trotsky, born Lev Davidovich Bronstein, is a perpetually controversial figure . . . Geary does a good job treating a touchy subject objectively . . . Best known for his ongoing series of graphic novels looking at famed murders, here [Geary] recreates Russia of the period in his own distinct style. It's instantly recognizable while never distracting; detailed, but not cluttered. Occasional flights of fancy, like his portraits of Trotsky done in the style of negative and positive propaganda posters, are wonderful."Publishers Weekly
Review
“A concise and powerful overview of one of the twentieth centurys most influential people.” Michael Lorah, Newsarama.com “Rick Geary deftly reclaims Trotsky for the middle class . . . Geary doesn't shy away from quoting Trotskys writings that were pro-revolutionary and pro-violent uprising, but the book projects a sympathetic view of its starring character.” Suzi Steffen, Eugene Weekly “Gearys familiar cartoonlike drawing style and factual presentation make this title an accessible and concise introduction to Trotskys life.” Matthew L. Moffett, School Library Journal “A swift-moving, generally accurate view of Trotskys life, guaranteed to send orthodox Stalinists into fits.” Kirkus Reviews “An ace at history in comics form, Geary turns here to the Russian revolution as seen through the life of Leon Trotsky.” Steve Weinberg, Booklist Jay Strafford - Hallie Ephron - Daniel Mallory - Robert Charles Wilson - Cory Doctorow - Ellen Kanner - Orson Scott Card - L.E. Modesitt, Jr. - Kevin J. Anderson - Katherine Kurtz - David Farland - Janet Maslin - Harlan Coben, author of No Second Chance - Andrew Klavan, author of True Crimes - Robert B. Parker, author of Back Story - Nelson DeMille, author of Up Country - Lisa Scottoline, author of Dead Ringer - Daniel Silva, author of The Confessor - Ronnie H. Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson - Patrick Anderson - Sharon Sala, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Dark - Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author of Say No to Joe? - Publishers Weekly - Mystery News - Chicago Tribune - Washington Post - Kirkus Reviews - Library Journal - New York Daily News - Publishers Weekly - The Dallas Morning News - The Guardian [UK - ] - The New York Times - The Times [UK - ] - Library Journal - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) - The New York Times - Entertainment Weekly (A-) - USA Today - People Magazine - New Orleans Times-Picayune - Library Journal, Starred Review - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) - Romantic Time Bookclub Magazine - Bookpage - Rocky Mountain News - Booklist - Publishers Weekly - USA Today - Pages Magazine - Booklist - Publishers Weekly - Fangoria - Romantic Times - El Paso Herald-Post - Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, USA Today bestselling authors - Kirkus Reviews - Library Journal - Max Evans - Norman Zollinger - Publishers Weekly - Richard Wheeler - Rocky Mountain News - Tony Hillerman - Tulsa World - The Washington Post - Library Journal - Booklist - Entertainment Weekly - Boston Globe - Richmond Times-Dispatch
Review
“A concise and powerful overview of one of the twentieth centurys most influential people.” —Michael Lorah, Newsarama.com “Rick Geary deftly reclaims Trotsky for the middle class . . . Geary doesn't shy away from quoting Trotskys writings that were pro-revolutionary and pro-violent uprising, but the book projects a sympathetic view of its starring character.” —Suzi Steffen, Eugene Weekly “Gearys familiar cartoonlike drawing style and factual presentation make this title an accessible and concise introduction to Trotskys life.” —Matthew L. Moffett, School Library Journal “A swift-moving, generally accurate view of Trotskys life, guaranteed to send orthodox Stalinists into fits.” —Kirkus Reviews “An ace at history in comics form, Geary turns here to the Russian revolution as seen through the life of Leon Trotsky.” —Steve Weinberg, Booklist
Synopsis
Trotsky was a hero to some, a ruthless demon to others. To Stalin, he was such a threat that he warranted murder by pickax. This polarizing figure set up a world conflict that lasted through the twentieth century, and in Trotsky: A Graphic Biography, the renowned comic artist Rick Geary uses his distinct style to depict the stark reality of the man and his times. Trotskys life becomes a guide to the creation of the Soviet Union, the horrors of World War I, and the establishment of international communism as he, Lenin, and their fellow Bolsheviks rise from persecution and a life underground to the height of political power. Ranging from his boyhood in the Ukraine to his fallout with Stalin and his moonlight romance with Frida Kahlo, Trotsky is a stunning look at one of the twentieth centurys most important thinkers and the far-reaching political trends that he launched.
About the Author
Rick Geary is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator. His most recent projects include J. Edgar Hoover: A Graphic Biography (H&W, 2008) and his continuing graphic series, A Treasury of Victorian Murder and A Treasury of XXth Century Murder.