A group of european historians, in a book titled the black book of communism, estimated that 94 million people have been killed by. Revolutions, like trees, must be judged by their fruit, ignazio silone wrote, and this is the standard the authors apply to the communist experiencein. The black book of communism the barbaric gentleman. In an essay in the nation published on the eve of the millennium, writer daniel singer deplored the black book of communism, the landmark. The first printing sold out in a matter of weeks, and the. The biggest lies ever concerning communism are debunked. The black book of communism, written by stephane courtois has been called into question on multiple different grounds. 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 black book of communism harvard university press.
The authors did such a bad job they were forced to admit it and print a retraction. This book is a must read and discusses many scholarly issues regarding the nature of totalitarianism, communism and fascism. Comprehensive examination of the crimes of communism. Full text of the black book of communism internet archive. Already famous throughout europe, this international bestseller plumbs recently opened archives in the former.
The black book of communism crimes, terror, repression. The black book of communism, crimes, terror, repression. Astonishing in the sheer detail it amasses, the book is the first comprehensive attempt to catalogue and analyze the crimes of communism over seventy years. How communism brought racial equality to the south tell me more continues its black history month series of conversations with a discussion about the role of the communist party. This international bestseller plumbs archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around. Incredibly, the crimes of communism have yet to receive a fair and just assessment from both historical and moral viewpoints. 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. But is also presents many facts and historical events regarding communism. Arch getty, for its lack of distinction between famine deaths and intentional deaths. How communism brought racial equality to the south. Already famous throughout europe, this international be. It certainly contains much truth and many facts that are often not in the college or high school textbooks. 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. Crimes, terror, repression jeanlouis panne, andrzej paczkowski, karel bartosek, jeanlouis margolin, nicolas werth.
The black book of communism stephane courtois, nicolas. This book is one of the first attempts to study communism with a focus on its criminal dimensions, in both the central regions of communist rule and the farthest reaches of the globe. An 800page compendium of the crimes of communist regimes worldwide, recorded and analyzed in ghastly detail by a team of scholars. Watch in 360 the inside of a nuclear reactor from the size of an atom with virtual reality duration. The book s central argument, copiously documented, is that the history of communism should be read above all as the history of an allout assault on society by a series of conspiratorial cliques led by cruel dictators lenin, stalin, mao zedong, kim ii sung, pol pot, and dozens of imitators who were murderously drunk on their own ideology and. Crimes, terror, repression is a 1997 book by stephane courtois, nicolas werth, andrzej paczkowski and several other.
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