This book is a collection of eleven essays dealing with important but little-studied episodes in Lenin's attempt to build a Bolshevik Party before 1914. It also deals with his defence of Roman Malinovsky, who turned out to be a police spy, and his romantic involvement with a fellow Bolshevik, Inessa Armand. The last three essays paint a picture of a 'non-geometric' Lenin and his little-known interests in food, holidaying and sports.