Can Lenin be vindicated in the 21st century without falling into sectarian anachronisms? Yes, it is possible. This is what historian and CUP politician Albert Botran does in his essay If Lenin raised his head, published by Ara Llibres (warning for the clueless: Ara Llibres has nothing to do with the newspaper ARA). I have known Albert Botran for years, when I commissioned a fortnightly section of history book reviews in the newspaper Today to his university professor Oriol Junqueras, who had become famous for his erudite interventions on TV3. Junqueras told me that he would do it together with a very solvent disciple, Albert Botran. I never imagined that both would make a political career. History lost two good professionals.