'Lenin did more than any other political leader to change the face of the 20th century world. The creation of Soviet Russia and its survival were due to him. He was very great man and even, dispite his faults, a very good man.' Historian A.J.P. Taylor

'In no circumstances would 20th century Russian history have been pleasant or bloodless. But Lenin made it far worse than it needed to be. In 1917 he combined fanaticism, ruthlessness and absolute self-confidence with a terrifying naivety about government, economics and Russian society. To impose such immense sacrifices in the name of so naive and flawed a vision makes Lenin one of the greatest criminals of the 20th century.' Historian Dominic Lieven