Sophisticated . . . scholarly and very readable. . . . [Gellately] rips up the accepted versions of this terrible period and analyzes it on the evidence that we now have. <br>--Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Washington Post Book World <br> Mr. Gellately sets a high standard for anyone writing about comparative dictatorship. . . . Lucid prose and vivid examples make the book admirably accessible to non-specialists. -- The Economist <br> Intriguing. . . . An excellent overview of Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism. . . . Gellately performs a very useful public service. <br>-- The New York Sun <br> Clearly written and massive documented. . . . the full story has finally been told. <br>-- The Buffalo News