The biggest lies ever concerning communism are debunked. Some critics have objected to the book s depiction of communism and nazism as being similar, others have criticized the approach the book takes to assigning blame of deaths, and still others, most notably j. Totalitarianisms central feature is a state that desires total control and assumes the right to impose that control at any cost. For american readers in particular, the editors claim that the dark side of communism remained elusive until the publication of this book rings hollow. Posts about little black book of communism written by jemison thorsby a true progressive we all want progress, but if youre on the wrong road, progress means doing an aboutturn and walking back to the right road. Black book of communism by barnetti, micky and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jun 01, 2001 stephane courtois, et al, the black book of communism, crimes, terror, repression. Why doesnt the black book of communism include the almost 6 million nazis killed by communism. The black book of communism local business facebook. The authors show how and why, wherever the ideology of communism was established, it quickly led to crime, terror, and repression. The black book of communism begins to show us that totalitarianism is totalitarianism, whether we call it fascist, communist or some other name. The contributors to the book include some of the finest scholars from both east and west, who have drawn extensively on new archival findings. Crimes, terror, repression is a book written by several european academics and edited by stephane courtois, and documents a history of repressions, both political and civilian, by communist states, including genocides, extrajudicial executions, deportations, and artificial famines.
Watch in 360 the inside of a nuclear reactor from the size of an atom with virtual reality duration. This book is a must read and discusses many scholarly issues regarding the nature of totalitarianism, communism and fascism. This is an assembly of extensive articles published in france two years ago and now. The black book of communism, the seminal harvard university press work, which specialized in trying to get accurate data on the enormous volume of deaths produced by communist tyrants, states that. Aug 24, 2017 the black book of communism alleges that communism killed 94 million people during the 20th century. The black book of communism has all the hallmarks of such a shift of allegiances. Maos great leap forward needed only two years to destroy tens of millions of peasants. It is a measure of the success of the class struggle that the reactionary intelligentsia felt compelled to write an 854 page book touching on the death toll of communism. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
The black book of communism alleges that communism killed 94 million people during the 20th century. The authors did such a bad job they were forced to admit it and print a retraction. Why doesnt the black book of communism include the almost 6. But the authors of the black book of communism do what none of the other authors had done before. An extraordinary accounting, this book amply documents the unparalleled position and significance of communism in the hierarchy of violence that is the history of the twentieth century. Yet austere though this inventory is, its cumulative impact is overwhelming. In addition to the 73,000 victims of communism in cuba estimated by the museum of communism, political science prof. Stephane courtois, nicholas werth, jean louis panne, andrzej paczkowski, karol bartosek, jeanlouis margolin. Buy the black book of communism crimes, terror, repression book online at best prices in india on.
But is also presents many facts and historical events regarding communism. Overall, somehow or another, the black book of communism has managed to raise the debate one notch. The black book of communism quotes by stephane courtois. A thoughtprovoking work of history and social criticism, the black book of communism fully merits the broadest possible readership and discussion. Crimes, terror, repression jeanlouis panne, andrzej paczkowski, karel bartosek, jeanlouis margolin, nicolas werth, stephane courtois, mark kramer, jonathan murphy, mark kramer on. The contributors to the book include some of the finest scholars from both east and west, who have drawn.
After learning about canadas ridiculous monument to the victims of communism and finding out that theres a similar monument in my own city, i looked at the. They said the changes would be made in the next edition. Be the first to ask a question about the black book of communism. List of books and articles about communism in america. The black book of communism crimes, terror, repression. The black book of communism the barbaric gentleman. Courtois and his colleagues do not simply unfold the numbers relentlessly and numbingly. In late 1997 a leading french publishing house, robert laffont, published le livre noir du communisme the black book of communism, an 850page book of scholarly essays that collectively provide a history of communism in the 20th century. The last, last dover reunion in may 2014 looks like it really was the last one. Seventeen hours a day we had to sit like that and hear from the morning to the evening. The black book of communism gives a balance sheet of our present knowledge of communisms human costs, archivally based where possible, and otherwise drawing on the best secondary works, and with due allowance for the difficulties of quantification.
Quoting survivors, escapees, and what little information had been published in the soviet press, the black book of communism. Apr 26, 2016 watch in 360 the inside of a nuclear reactor from the size of an atom with virtual reality duration. Comprehensive examination of the crimes of communism. Stephane courtois nicolas werth jeanlouis panne andrzej paczkowski karel bartosek jeanlouis margolin stephane courtois jeanlouis panne. Instead, they painstakingly explore the many ways the killing was done. Aug 10, 2011 the biggest lies ever concerning communism are debunked. Regrettably, in the case of the black book of communism, these characteristics are not irrelevant. This number is accumulated from more than 10 different nations and various movements around the. The black book of communism, crimes, terror, repression. Crimes, terror, repression by stephane courtois and five other writers, translated from the french 1999, 850 pages.
Already famous throughout europe, this international be. The black book has sold more than 100,000 copies in europe. Crimes, terror, repression is a 1997 book by stephane. Communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, until you heard one who was already 20 years in prison under the communists shouting, communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, i give my life for communism. Some contributors in this book sought to explain the brutality of the communist regime as caused by the brutal nature of the russian people in my mind a big mistake.
Home browse politics and government systems of government communism communism in america. The black book of communism, while some of its claims have been disputed is nevertheless the source of material for any anticommunist, and should be mandatory reading for anybody to the right of karl marx. The black book of communism stephane courtois, nicolas. The fraudulent death tolls contained in the book are the single most quoted anticommunist source in the world. Of course our number of crew colleagues is dwindling, and the energy to plan another real reunion has evaporated.
Already famous throughout europe, this international bestseller plumbs recently opened archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around the world. After learning about canadas ridiculous monument to the victims of communism and finding out that theres a similar monument in my own city, i looked at the claims made by the reactionaries funding the projects. Jan 01, 2001 black book puts to rest the odious fiction that has softened communisms image for so long. The black book of communism, one of the largest most blatant distortions of history. This international bestseller plumbs archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around. Every group of bullies needs a head honcho, and buddy is it for the communist party in chicago.
Full text of the black book of communism internet archive. Discover librarianselected research resources on communism in america from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The black book of communism gives a balance sheet of our present knowledge of communism s human costs, archivally based where possible, and otherwise drawing on the best secondary works, and with due allowance for the difficulties of quantification. It certainly contains much truth and many facts that are often not in the college or high school textbooks.
It is a major study that deepens our understanding of communism and poses a philosophical and political challenge that cannot be ignored. This international bestseller plumbs archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around the world. If you are going to read only one book this year, make it the black book of. The black book of communism was originally published in france on november 8, 1997, the eightieth anniversary of the russian revolution. The book not only bashes socialism and makes it out to be worse than fascism, it outright tries to portray fascism as a good thing. Probably the most important historical study published since the collapse of the soviet union in 1991 allowed access to kremlin archives for the first time, the black book sparked passionate national debate when it was first published in france in 1997 and yet was completely and totally ignored when it came out in translation here two years.
The black book of communism, written by stephane courtois has been called into question on multiple different grounds. Some critics have objected to the books depiction of communism and nazism as being similar, others have criticized the approach the book takes to assigning blame of deaths, and still others, most notably j. Click to read more about the black book of communism. Crimes, terror, repression is a 1997 book by stephane courtois, nicolas werth, andrzej paczkowski and several other european academics documenting a history of political repressions by communist states, including genocides, extrajudicial executions, deportations, killing populations in labor camps and artificially created famines. Buy the black book of communism crimes, terror, repression. In its many enthroned variations, from lenins 1917 revolution to the recent marxistleninist regimes of africa, communism has killed upwards of 100 million people 65 million in china alone. The black book of communism we should be wary of believing that communism is a dead issue. In france, this damning reckoning of communisms worldwide legacy was a bestseller that sparked passionate arguments among intellectuals of the left. The black book of communism, while some of its claims have been disputed is nevertheless the source of material for any anticommunist, and should be mandatory reading for anybody to. A book that created a sensation when it was published in france is now available in english.
Black book puts to rest the odious fiction that has softened communisms image for so long. Astonishing in the sheer detail it amasses, the book is the first comprehensive attempt to catalogue and analyze the crimes of communism. Peasants often resisted communism more fervently than any group. So what is our authors rationale for throwing away their old convictions. Jacob heilbrunn wall street journal the black book of communism, which is finally appearing in english, is an extraordinary and almost unspeakably chilling book. I cant think of any book that would be more important for americans to read. Posts about black book of communism written by jemison thorsby a true progressive we all want progress, but if youre on the wrong road, progress means doing an aboutturn and walking back to the right road. Cambridge, ma, harvard university press, third printing 2000, french original 1997. Random house childrens books and jetblue have launched the seventh. Stephane courtois, et al, the black book of communism, crimes, terror, repression. The first printing sold out in a matter of weeks, and the. Nevetheless, the book, published in paris in 1927, was one of the first to describe the soviet unions earliest political prisons, located on the solovetsky islands in the white sea.
131 1022 418 1482 304 90 723 896 420 64 108 709 1276 596 1263 608 670 860 1455 152 1070 824 1329 1286 1089 1122 831 875 1531 1520 1366 1213 1303 1313 1046 382 813 775 791 345 564 474 857 527 560 233 838 1222 1385