The Death of Trotsky | Stalin, Espionage and Assassination – with Josh Ireland

In this episode of History Book Buffs, Antonia Senior talks to historian Josh Ireland about his gripping book The Death of Trotsky, which tells the extraordinary story of how Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin hunted down his greatest rival, Leon Trotsky.

After the Russian Revolution, Trotsky seemed destined to inherit power from Vladimir Lenin. Instead, Stalin outmanoeuvred him politically, forced him into exile, and then spent years trying to have him killed.

Eventually Trotsky ended up in Mexico, surrounded by spies, assassins and political fanatics. There, in 1940, Stalin’s agents finally succeeded.

Antonia and Josh explore the rivalry between Stalin and Trotsky, the psychology of revolutionary power, the Spanish Civil War networks that helped Soviet intelligence, and the extraordinary lives of the people drawn into the assassination plot — including Ramon Mercader, the man who ultimately killed Trotsky.

The result is one of the most dramatic stories of the 20th century: revolution, exile, espionage, ideology and murder.

Buy the book here:

• https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1789467078

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-death-of-trotsky/josh-ireland/9781789467075

• https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Death-of-Trotsky-by-Joshua-Ireland/9781789467075

• https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-death-of-trotsky-joshua-ireland/

• https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/joshua-ireland/the-death-of-trotsky/

The incredible story of the Cambridge Five spy ring and how their intelligence helped advance Stalin’s global ambitions.

Buy the book here:

• https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/000856622X

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/stalins-apostles/antonia-senior/

• https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Stalins-Apostles-by-Antonia-Senior/

• https://bookshop.org/p/books/stalins-apostles-antonia-senior/

• https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/stalins-apostles-antonia-senior

• The rivalry between Stalin and Trotsky

• How Stalin consolidated power after Lenin’s death

• Trotsky’s exile across Europe and eventually Mexico

• Stalin’s obsession with eliminating his rival

• Soviet intelligence operations abroad

• Ramon Mercader and the assassination plot

• The role of the Spanish Civil War networks

• Trotsky’s strange final years in Mexico, including his connection with Frida Kahlo

• Writing narrative history from archives and primary sources

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📚 Buy the Books MentionedThe Death of Trotsky – Josh IrelandStalin’s Apostles – Antonia SeniorTopics Discussed in the EpisodeListen / Watch History Book Buffs