The Death of Trotsky | Josh Ireland

The Death of Trotsky: The True Story of the Plot to Kill Stalin's Greatest Enemy

Accolades & Praise

• Recommended for fans of narrative history masters Ben Macintyre and Erik Larson.

Extended Synopsis

On August 20, 1940, inside a heavily fortified compound in Mexico City, Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky invited a trusted associate known as Jacques Mornard into his study. Moments later, Mornard struck Trotsky in the skull with an ice pick hidden inside his raincoat. The assassin was actually Ramón Mercader, a Spanish aristocrat and Soviet undercover agent posing as a Belgian playboy, executing direct orders from Joseph Stalin.

In The Death of Trotsky: The True Story of the Plot to Kill Stalin's Greatest Enemy, historian Josh Ireland investigates the decade-long conspiracy orchestrated by Stalin to eliminate his most formidable political rival. Escaping purge after purge, Trotsky had been driven into exile and hunted across Europe before finding refuge in Mexico. Even as Stalin systematically liquidated Trotsky’s family, friends, and political allies, Trotsky continued to write and speak out against the Soviet regime.

Swinging between Moscow, Paris, and Mexico City, Ireland traces the converging paths of hunter and prey. Featuring a vivid cast of morally conflicted Russian spies, fanatical Mexican artists, and idealist American supporters, The Death of Trotsky delivers a gripping narrative of cold-blooded espionage, betrayal, and the deadly intrigue that reshaped 20th-century history.

About the Author

Josh Ireland is a biographer, historian, and author known for his compelling narrative histories of 20th-century political and military conflict. His previous works include Churchill & Son, which explored the complex relationship between Winston Churchill and his son Randolph.

Reader Targeting

• Readers of 20th-century political history, World War II intelligence, and Cold War origins.
• Fans of immersive narrative history and true espionage by authors like Ben Macintyre, Erik Larson, and Giles Milton.
• Historians and scholars focusing on Soviet history, the Russian Revolution, and Stalinist purge campaigns.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Death of Trotsky about?
The book chronicles Joseph Stalin's decade-long conspiracy and espionage campaign to assassinate his rival Leon Trotsky, culminating in the 1940 ice pick attack in Mexico City by Soviet agent Ramón Mercader.

Who is the author?
The Death of Trotsky is written by historian and biographer Josh Ireland, author of Churchill & Son.

Where does the book take place?
The narrative spans multiple international locations, moving between Moscow, Paris, and Mexico City as Stalin's agents close in on Trotsky in exile.