The first comprehensive English-language biography of Romanian Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu (1918–89), with resonance for contemporary politics.
Based on unique archival materials, in-depth interviews, and personal memoirs, The Perfect Stalinist tells the story of Ceausescu’s rule and rise to power, from his youth in the interwar Romanian Communist underground and his role as a loyal protégé of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej to his eventual succession in 1965 and execution during the Romanian Revolution of 1989. During his twenty-four-year rule, Ceausescu created a self-styled form of dynastic communism based on his all-encompassing cult of personality. His brand of extremist nationalism remains influential today among personalities like Peter Thiel, Alexander Dugin, and other neoreactionaries. Ceausescu’s story of delusional narcissism and its destructive effects is sure to resonate with observers of contemporary politics.
