Reply from Laurence Rees on
Stalin behind Closed Doors-BBC
Thanks very much for your
note. I’m afraid I simply didn't have space to include a discussion of these
issues- fascinating as they are - in the Behind Closed Doors book. I made the
decision to begin the story in 1939 and so felt it wouldn't be helpful to refer
back to this history. I'm sure others would have written the book differently,
but for better or worse, that's what I thought was the right way forward.
Equally, I'm afraid I can't go into my views on Trotsky here as I would need
several thousand words to adequately represent my opinion on that interesting
time. I believe my friend Professor Robert Service is writing a big biography
of Trotsky at the minute, so it will be absorbing to see his thoughts. Thanks
again for your note.
Best wishes, Laurence
My Reply
Dear Laurence Rees,
Please forgive me for the
delay in answering your reply. It is probably true that had you taken on a study of the inner-party struggle between
Trotsky and Stalin your book and film would have taken a different tone. Before
you mentioned the fact that you have left the matter of Trotsky to Robert
Service, I had somewhat generously given you the right as a historian to choose
your subject matter. But as your recent lecture at Coventry Cathedral outlined
the deliberate airbrushing things out of history poisons the well that people
have to drink out when they try to understand our future from the past.
Your choice of Robert
Service as a friend tends to confirm Shakespeare's adage by your friends you
shall be known. Do you share the same view of Service on the Trotsky- Stalin struggle? I would be grateful
to you if you would briefly outline your attitude to Trotsky. I am not asking
you to agree with him on his struggle against Stalin, but unlike Mr Service who
has a tendency to play down the need for historical truth, I think this crucial
for future generations to understand what happened in the former USSR. I am
inclined to believe there was a left alternative to Stalin and that an honest
understanding of Trotsky’s role in that struggle is crucial. I have added for
your information a two-part review by Fred Williams of Robert Service biography
of Stalin.
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