A quick read. A comprehensive read, as well. This book is political biography of Lev Davidovich Bronstein who changed his name to Leon Trotsky while fleeing imprisonment.

Dave Renton evaluates the philosophy behind one of the kingpins in Russian socialism and seems to deflect any blame for Stalin's murderous plunder away from Trotsky.

The book, set up like a textbook was helpful with sidebars of useful information, be it players in the revolutions or world events that effected Russia's direction. Interestingly, on the bottom of the page was a synopsis of each page, summed up in a word or three. ( )