Arbeiderpartiet's leaders escape too lightly: The novel about Leo Trotsky in Norway downplays dramatic events

A new novel focusing on Leon Trotsky's stay in Norway in 1936 has been criticized for toning down the dramatic events of his time there. Instead of emphasizing the political turmoil, the book reportedly centers on his experiences in the Norwegian archipelago.

Trotsky, a key figure in the 1917 Russian Revolution and founder of the Red Army, was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1929 following a power struggle with Joseph Stalin. He and his wife, Natalia, lived as refugees before he was granted asylum in Norway in 1935.

However, his time in Norway was short-lived. By the end of 1936, Trotsky was expelled by the Norwegian authorities. He famously expressed his bitterness, stating, "Never in my life – and I have experienced much – have I been treated with such cynicism as by the Norwegian 'socialist' government."

After his expulsion from Norway, Trotsky eventually settled in Mexico. It was there, in 1940, that he was assassinated by agents of Stalin. The novel's approach, which reportedly glosses over the harsh realities of Trotsky's exile and his confrontations with the Norwegian government, has drawn criticism for potentially misrepresenting this period of his life.

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Never in my life – and I have experienced much – have I been treated with such cynicism as by the Norwegian 'socialist' government.