After Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) is the man most associated with communism and its influence that reached around the world. Lenin was the leader of the communist Bolshevik party during the October 1917 revolution in Russia, and he subsequently headed the Soviet state until 1924, bringing stability to the region and establishing a socialist economic and political system. In 'Lenin,' Lars T. Lih presents a striking new interpretation of Lenin's political beliefs and strategies, a vivid, non-ideological portrait, and an essential look at one of the key figures of modern histor