Vaclav Havel: A Political Tragedy In Six ActsBasic Books, 2008 M01 4 - 544 pages This authorized biography of Havel, based on unrestricted access to him, his circle, and even his enemies, is not only the first definitive account of one of the modern world's great moral and political leaders but also a vivid panorama of the tumultuous events of his times. Havel's life, like that of his African counterpart Nelson Mandela, has been shaped and determined by the large political shifts of the twentieth century. Readers will taste the moments of joy, irony, farce, and misfortune through which he has lived, and realize that he has taught the world more about the powerful and the powerless, power-grabbing and power-sharing, than virtually anyone else on the world stage. |
Contents
| 17 | |
Red Dawn 19451956 | 67 |
Stalins Shadows 19561968 | 119 |
LateSocialism 19691989 | 209 |
Velvet Revolution 1989 | 335 |
Decline 19901999 | 407 |
Acknowledgments | 507 |
Illustrations | 511 |
Guide to Czech Pronunciation | 515 |
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appeared authorities become began body called Castle Charter citizens Civic Forum civil Communism Communist courage critics Czech Czechoslovak death democracy democratic Dubček early effect especially Europe European everything expression face fact fear feel forced freedom friends future German hands Havel head human important individuals initially instance Interview later letter living London look March matter means meeting Minister months naturally never Olga organizations parliament Party peace performance play police political possible Prague President principle prison question Republic responsibility role rule seemed sense Slovak socialism society sometimes Soviet speech struggle subjects talk theatre things told tried truth turned Union Václav Václav Havel wanted weeks whole write wrote young
Popular passages
Page 13 - I put for a general inclination of all mankind a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.
Page 41 - ... safeguarding of calm, order and peace in this part of Central Europe. The Czechoslovak President declared that, in order to serve this object and to achieve ultimate pacification, he confidently placed the fate of the Czech people and country in the hands of the Fiihrer of the German Reich.