Upon its initial publication the book received a positive review in The Times, with Edward Mortimer describing it as "crisp and carefully documented".[3] However, C. C. Aronsfeld was critical in a review published in the journal International Affairs, stating that "Brenner has produced a party political tract that unhinges the balance of history by ignoring too many difficulties, especially psychological. For once Stalinists will be pleased with the work of a Trotskyist".[4]