Simon Sebag Montefiore
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Simon Sebag Montefiore (1965- ) is a British academic of Jewish origin specializing in Russian History. He wrote Potemkin, a biography of Catherine the Great's lover and political partner. More recently, in 2004, he authored a lengthy biography of one of the twentieth centuries most powerful dictators, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. Both biographies were critically acclaimed and his second book is being widely translated and reprinted. The New York Times review includes this passage: "A harrowing portrait of life in the dictator's inner circle... [Stalin] emerges from this book as a contradictory, creepily flesh-and-blood human being."
He combines thorough research (most of which has only become available since the opening of the Soviet Archives) with a readable narrative. Stalin follows the dictator and his closest associates throughout their reign atop the USSR with intimate detail. Montefiore's writing style and choice of content distinguish him as a new breed of biographer who seeks to engage and appeal to the reader, rather than just tell a factual narrative. His vocabulary usage includes such slang as digs (referring to an apartment or home), and tipsy (meaning inebriated). His work goes beyond detailing the obvious biographical necessities, like major political actions and international events. He also describes less traditional fare like the sexual activities and interpersonal relationships between all the main actors, not just Stalin. His frequent footnotes read like a friendly explanation of obscure people and events.
Montefiore lives in London with his wife, Santa Montefiore, also a writer and sister of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, and their two children. He also works in television documentaries.
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