Czarist Russia was a land of extreme contrast. Grinding poverty existed alongside fantastic wealth. While the Czar and his friends hunted deer in the royal parks, the peasants and wokers, burdended by famine, taxation and political oppression, went hungry in silence. This was the heritage of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, code name Lenin, born in 1870 in a little town on the Volga. While still a boy Lenin came face to face with the full meaning of Czarist autocracy. His rebellious young brother, Alexander, who "had but one aim, to help the unfortunate Russian people", hanged for revolutionary activities. Lenin, forsaking all loyalty to the Czar, devoted himself to the building a new Russia, a Russia free of oppression and injustice. It was to be a lifetime struggle. This new History Makers title tells the story of how Lenin realised his ambitions amidst the intrigues of his opponents and bitter struggles with the Czar's secret police. It takes the reader through all the exciting ups and downs of Lenin's life in Russia and as an exile in England and other countries. Using much of Lenin's own writings, Lionel Kochan tells the life story of the man whose battle against autocracy led to the foundation of the world's first communist state.