Berianidze
11-14-2005, 03:42 AM
I've currently been reading Conversations with Stalin by the Yugoslav communist Milovan Djilas. And althought Djilas was critical of socialism in Eastern Europe, and sided with the likes of Tito and partially responsible for the "positive neutralism" approach Yugoslavia took towards socialism, in his book he made some interesting comments regarding his meetings with Stalin, including his personal perception of the man:
One thing did not surprise me: Stalin had a sense of humour - a rough humour, self-assured, but not entirely without subtlety and depth. His reactions, were quick and acute - and conclusive, which did not mean that he did not hear the speaker out, but it was evident that he was no friend of long explanations. Also remarkable was his relation to Molotov. He obviously regarded him as a very close associate, as I later confirmed. Molotov was the only member of the Politburo whom Stalin addressed with the familiar pronoun ty, which is in itself significant when one remembers that Russians normally use the polite form vy even among very close friends.
Stalin ate food in quantities that would have been enormous even for a much larger man. He usually chose meat, which was a sign of his mountain origins. He also liked all kinds of local specialities in which this land of various climes and civilizations abounded, but I did not notice that any one dish was his particular favourite. He drank moderately, usually mixing red wine and vodka in little glasses. I never noticed any signs of drunkenness in him, whereas I could not say the same for Molotov, let alone for Beria, who was practically a drunkard.
-Milovan Djilas, Conversations with Stalin
While I'm personally no fan of Djilas, I thought it very interesting to read his comments on Stalin's mannerisms; and in particular how it refutes many of the unfounded, ludicrous claims that Stalin was a drunkard whom stayed up all night partying and left the job of governing to his politburo.
One thing did not surprise me: Stalin had a sense of humour - a rough humour, self-assured, but not entirely without subtlety and depth. His reactions, were quick and acute - and conclusive, which did not mean that he did not hear the speaker out, but it was evident that he was no friend of long explanations. Also remarkable was his relation to Molotov. He obviously regarded him as a very close associate, as I later confirmed. Molotov was the only member of the Politburo whom Stalin addressed with the familiar pronoun ty, which is in itself significant when one remembers that Russians normally use the polite form vy even among very close friends.
Stalin ate food in quantities that would have been enormous even for a much larger man. He usually chose meat, which was a sign of his mountain origins. He also liked all kinds of local specialities in which this land of various climes and civilizations abounded, but I did not notice that any one dish was his particular favourite. He drank moderately, usually mixing red wine and vodka in little glasses. I never noticed any signs of drunkenness in him, whereas I could not say the same for Molotov, let alone for Beria, who was practically a drunkard.
-Milovan Djilas, Conversations with Stalin
While I'm personally no fan of Djilas, I thought it very interesting to read his comments on Stalin's mannerisms; and in particular how it refutes many of the unfounded, ludicrous claims that Stalin was a drunkard whom stayed up all night partying and left the job of governing to his politburo.