There are subjects which are so engrained in society that I think I should know them reasonably well before studying them. Time and time again I am surprised to find how little I know.

Soviet Russia has been one of those subjects. I have just finished a biography of Joseph Stalin (Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar by Simon Sebag Montifiore). I had no idea just how crazy the guy was, nor the extent of his terror. I’m left feeling somewhat less comfortable with the proximity of his time to the present.

I have obviously learnt only a small piece about Soviet Russia from this book, but it is now much clearer to me where there are gaps in my knowledge and I at least have a mental hook into the time now. But elsewhere in history I am sure there are huge gaps I am still not really aware of. Being a newcomer to history (other than study at school) I’m finding quite a few surprises as I begin to fill my brain with new knowledge. I’m not sure how I’ve managed to neglect this subject for so long.

History is now a category on this blog.