The Black Book of Communism

In The Black Book of Communism , Stéphane Courtois brings together his research with that of other renowned researchers, including Nicolas Werth and Jean-Louis Panné, and exposes the dark side of communism.

The Black Book of Communism does not seek to justify or find causes for the acts committed under the communist banner. Nor does it aim to be another chapter in the left-right polemic, discussing Marxist foundations or theories. It is, above all, about shedding light on the appalling toll of more than seven decades of communist regime history: large-scale massacres, deportations of entire populations to regions without the minimum conditions for survival, hunger and poverty that decimated millions; in short, the annihilation of men, women, children, soldiers, peasants, religious figures, political prisoners, and all those who, for a variety of reasons, found themselves in the path of implementing what, paradoxically, was born as a promise of redemption and hope.

In a revised edition with a new cover, The Black Book of Communism presents extensive and complex research—the locations, dates, facts, executioners, and victims numbering in the tens of millions in the USSR and China, as well as millions in smaller countries like North Korea and Cambodia. The work is also supported by a 32-page insert with approximately 80 images and maps that situate the story and provide further background information for the reader.

Originally published in France, just as the October Revolution of 1917 was 80 years old, The Black Book of Communism quickly became a bookstore success, garnering enormous attention, and sparking numerous controversies. With over a million copies sold worldwide and translated into more than 25 languages, The Black Book of Communism established itself as a landmark work in studies on the subject to this day, playing a fundamental role in understanding the tragedies and complexities of the 20th century.