One has to pay real attention to 'The Court of the Red Tsar' ....and it involves a little jumping around between chapters, pages as well as the photographs in order to make real sense of the whole thing (especially if it is the first book on Stalin that you read). It is not the author's fault; it is up to the reader to make the most of what surely must be the most up-to-date account of the Stalin years. It is even funny at times.....a great read!