Starman: The Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin

On April 12 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in history to venture into space. Based on government files and interviews with his friends, this biography of the Russian cosmonaut reveals a man torn apart by political and emotional pressure, and fighting alcoholism.

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On April 12 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in history to leave the Earth's atmosphere and venture into space. An icon of the 20th century, he also became a danger to himself, a threat to the Soviet state and, at the age of 34, he was killed in a plane accident. Based on KGB files, restricted documents from Russian space authorities, and interviews with his friends and colleagues, this biography of the Russian cosmonaut reveals a man in turmoil: torn apart by powerful political and emotional pressures; his private life in ruins; fighting a losing battle against alcoholism; and rebelling against the cruelties of a corrupt totalitarian regime. The authors also suggest that Gagarin's death was no accident but a deliberate "political elimination".