Stalin likened himself to the 16th century Russian emperor Ivan the Terrible.

Ivan the Terrible is a very important figure in Russian history.

Ivan the Terrible was an overwhelmingly charismatic and tyrannical ruler. He, too, imposed a reign of terror, slaughtering and torturing countless people.

But it is also true that his overwhelming power made the Russian dynasty a powerful nation. Stalin must have been aware of this history.

The comparison between Stalin and Ivan the Terrible is a very interesting question.

Stalin was a workaholic and did not care first about his family. However, Nadja and Stalin often quarreled, but they were able to have open conversations. For Stalin, she was the only partner he felt comfortable with.

However, the bizarre situation at the heart of the Soviet Union - the political machinations and Stalin's unrestrained attitude - caused Nadja to become mentally ill. Finally, she committed suicide by shooting herself in the heart.

As expected, Stalin was shocked by his wife's suicide. The dictator who killed millions of people with impunity also shed tears and suffered severe shock at his wife's death.

If there had been even the slightest bit of mourning for the deaths of millions of people, history might have been different. Or perhaps it is precisely because he did not that he was able to become a dictator...

Religion was taboo in Soviet society, but the very structure of the Soviet Union was based on religious beliefs. I have been thinking a lot about the theme of what religion is, and this was a very thought-provoking scene.

And under Stalin's regime, at least 4 to 5 million people died of starvation. And that too by man-made means...

These things were happening during the Stalin era. And under Stalin's regime, even this was justified in order to create a "wonderful new world"... It has now become a story of unimaginable proportions...

Stalin himself stated, "Even I am not Stalin.

I think this is a very important word.

Stalin has been considered the dictator of the Soviet Union. However, Stalin himself may have been only one cog in the Soviet system. It was very interesting to see how Stalin, who seemed to be running everything, was actually being driven by the system.

I think this passage is very important in considering what a dictator is.

What makes this film unique is the way it tries to get as close as possible to the real image of Stalin as a human being. Not only Stalin, but also his family and the courtiers around him are described in detail.

Who was Stalin, what was he thinking and what was he trying to do? And how did he rise to dictatorship?

This book is a huge work, about 1200 pages in both the upper and lower volumes. But you will not get tired of reading it at all. The novel-like narrative draws you in as you read.

It's a big book that is quite a pain to read, but it's worth it. It's interesting!

友人は「この本はホラー小説を読んでるような気分で一気に読んでしまいました」と薦めてくれましたが、まさにその通り！ホラー小説とはよく言ったもので、ずばりそんな恐怖を感じる本でした。とても面白い本でした。これは今の時代にまさにオススメする１冊です。ぜひ手に取ってみてください。

この本を紹介してくれた友人には大感謝です。