The book is the first major publication on the remarkable life and career of Boris Iofan (1891–1976), state architect to Joseph Stalin. Iofan’s story is an insight into the troubled relationship of all successful architects with power. A gifted designer and a committed Communist, Iofan became the Soviet Union’s most celebrated architect and the heart of political life in the Soviet Union. Generously illustrated, with a wide range of unpublished material, this book is an exploration of architecture as an instrument of statecraft. It is an insight into the key moments of 20th‑century politics and culture from a unique perspective, and the personal story of a remarkable individual who witnessed many of the most dramatic turning points of modern history. The book was shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize 2022.
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