Trotsky’s time in New York explored in Robert Littell’s novel
A new novel reimagines Leon Trotsky’s brief stay in New York before the Russian Revolution.
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| Leon Trotsky's arrest warrant photograph from his student years, 1898. © Hulton-Deutsch/Corbis/Getty Images |
By Novanka Laras and Sarah Oktaviany
Bronshtein in the Bronx, by Robert Littell
In January 1917, just weeks before Russia’s Czar Nicholas II was overthrown, Leon Trotsky arrived in New York. The socialist revolutionary, then in his late 30s, had spent the previous decade moving between London, Vienna, Paris, and other European cities, advocating for international socialism. As World War I ravaged Europe, he wrote and spoke passionately about what he viewed as a war of imperialist decay.
Trotsky’s time in the United States was brief but intense. He quickly immersed himself in political activism, attending meetings, making speeches, and writing articles for publications such as Novy Mir and Der Forverts. His stay in New York influenced American communism, but he did not remain long. Just ten weeks after arriving, he boarded a ship back to Russia, answering the call of the Petrograd Soviet following the February Revolution.
Robert Littell’s fictionalized take on Trotsky’s American experience
While historical accounts of Trotsky’s time in New York exist, including Kenneth D. Ackerman’s Trotsky in New York, 1917, Robert Littell takes a different approach. His novel Bronshtein in the Bronx offers an imaginative and unconventional retelling of Trotsky’s brief stay in America.
Littell, known for Cold War espionage novels such as The Amateur and The Stalin Epigram, has long been fascinated by Soviet history. Now 90 years old, the author brings his signature wit and intricate plotting to Bronshtein in the Bronx, creating a story driven by lively dialogue, ideological debates, and unexpected humor. The novel is narrated in the first person by Trotsky—referred to by his birth name, Lev Bronshtein—and plays with historical facts while introducing fictionalized elements.
A novel blending history, satire, and invention
Littell’s book immerses readers in early 20th-century New York, detailing Trotsky’s encounters with key political figures, from socialist leader Eugene Debs to American Communist Lou Fraina. He even includes a fictional meeting between Trotsky and a young John E. Hoover—later known as J. Edgar Hoover.
One of the most audacious aspects of the novel is Littell’s decision to give Trotsky an internal dialogue with a personified conscience named “Litzky.” This imagined character challenges Trotsky’s beliefs and adds a layer of satire to the narrative. According to Littell, “Litzky” was inspired by his own family history, as his father’s surname was originally Litzky before being changed to Littell in 1919.
The novel also introduces a romantic subplot that stretches historical credibility. Trotsky engages in an affair with a journalist described as “half Mexican, half Jewish,” inspired—somewhat anachronistically—by artist Frida Kahlo. In reality, Trotsky’s affair with Kahlo occurred two decades later in Mexico. The novel takes further liberties with language, incorporating phrases that seem too modern for 1917, such as “drain the capitalist swamp” and “sixty-four-dollar question.”
How well does the novel capture Trotsky’s ideology?
Littell’s depiction of Trotsky captures his sharp intellect and revolutionary fervor but infuses the character with a playful, almost irreverent tone. The novel paints Trotsky as a man constantly debating himself, grappling with contradictions, and engaging in witty exchanges with those around him.
However, some readers may find the book’s use of modern slang and exaggerated satire distracting. While Littell clearly conducted historical research—incorporating real-life figures and documented meetings—his decision to prioritize entertainment over strict accuracy may not appeal to all audiences.
A novel for history buffs and literary adventurers
Bronshtein in the Bronx is not a conventional historical novel. Instead, it is a bold reimagining of a pivotal moment in Trotsky’s life, blending fact and fiction with humor and satire. While those seeking a more traditional account of Trotsky’s time in New York may prefer Ackerman’s Trotsky in New York, 1917, Littell’s novel offers an unconventional, engaging, and often surprising perspective on one of history’s most influential revolutionaries.
By blending political history with sharp dialogue and unexpected narrative choices, Bronshtein in the Bronx presents a version of Trotsky that is as entertaining as it is provocative, even if it sometimes strays far from the historical record.
