Title
20 LETTERS TO FRIEND,New
Processing time: 1-3 days
US Orders Ships in: 3-5 days
International Orders Ships in: 8-12 days
Return Policy: 15-days return on defective items
Payment Option
In this riveting, New York Timesbestselling memoirfirst published by Harper in 1967Svetlana Alliluyeva, subject of Rosemary Sullivans critically acclaimed biography, Stalins Daughter, describes the surreal experience of growing up in the Kremlin in the shadow of her father, Joseph Stalin.Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva, later known as Lana Peters, was the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin and Nadezhda Alliluyeva, his second wife. In 1967, she fled the Soviet Union for India, where she approached the U.S. Embassy for asylum. Once there, she showed her CIA handler something remarkable: A personal memoir about growing up inside the Kremlin that shed written in 1963. The Indian Ambassador to the USSR, whom shed befriended, had smuggled the manuscript out of the Soviet Union the previous yearand returned it to her as soon as she arrived in India.Structured as a series of letters to a friendSvetlana refused to identify him, but we now know it was her close friend, Fyodor Volkensteinthis astounding memoir exposes the dark human heart of the Kremlin. After opening with Stalins death, Svetlana returns to her childhood. Each letter adds a new strand to her remarkable story; some are wistfulromanticized recollections of her early years and her familywhile others are desperate exorcisms of the tragedies that plagued her, such as her mothers suicide and her fathers increasing cruelty. It is also in some ways a love letter to Russia, with its ancient heritage and spectacularly varied geography.Candid, surprising, and utterly compelling, Twenty Letters to a Friend offers one of the most revealing portraits of life inside Stalins inner circle, and of the notorious dictator himself.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of '20 Letters to Friend'? A: The main theme of '20 Letters to Friend' revolves around Svetlana Alliluyeva's personal experiences growing up in the Kremlin under the shadow of her father, Joseph Stalin. It explores themes of family, loss, and the complexities of living in a totalitarian regime.
- Q: Who is the author of '20 Letters to Friend'? A: The author of '20 Letters to Friend' is Svetlana Alliluyeva, who was the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin.
- Q: When was '20 Letters to Friend' published? A: '20 Letters to Friend' was first published in 1967 and has a reprint edition released on June 1, 2016.
- Q: What is the format of the book? A: '20 Letters to Friend' is structured as a series of letters addressed to a friend, providing insight into Alliluyeva's life and her reflections on her upbringing in the Kremlin.
- Q: How many pages does '20 Letters to Friend' contain? A: '20 Letters to Friend' contains a total of 272 pages.
- Q: What type of binding is used for this book? A: '20 Letters to Friend' is available in paperback binding.
- Q: Is '20 Letters to Friend' suitable for academic research? A: '20 Letters to Friend' offers a personal perspective on life within Stalin's inner circle, making it a valuable resource for those studying Soviet history, totalitarian regimes, and personal narratives.
- Q: What can readers expect from the writing style in '20 Letters to Friend'? A: Readers can expect a candid and compelling writing style that combines personal anecdotes with historical reflections, providing a unique insight into the emotional and psychological impact of living under Stalin.
- Q: Does '20 Letters to Friend' include historical context? A: '20 Letters to Friend' includes historical context as it recounts Svetlana's life experiences during significant events in Soviet history, particularly the aftermath of Stalin's regime.
- Q: Can '20 Letters to Friend' be considered a memoir? A: '20 Letters to Friend' is indeed considered a memoir, as it reflects Svetlana Alliluyeva's personal experiences and thoughts about her life growing up as Stalin's daughter.