To the Castle and Back
by Václav Havel
189 Members (4.00)
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Description
As writer, dissident, and statesman, Havel played an essential part in the changes that occurred in Central Europe during the last decades of the twentieth century, and became a powerful intellectual and political force for the reestablishment of democratic principles and institutions. Now, in this memoir, he recollects the pivotal experiences and ideas of his remarkable life. Known in his native Prague for his theatrical productions, and imprisoned for his anticommunist views, Havel emerged show more on the international stage in 1989 as the elected president of Czechoslovakia. He writes with eloquence and candor about his transition from playwright to politician, and the surreal challenges of governing a young democracy. But the scope of his writing extends far beyond the circumstances he faced in his own country. He shares his thoughts on the future of the EU, the reach of the American superpower, and the role of national identity in today's world.--From publisher description. show lessTags
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129+ Works 3,484 Members
Václav Harvel (October 5, 1936 - December 18, 2011) was a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, philosopher and politician. He was the ninth and last president of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and the first president of the Czech Republic (1993-2003). He wrote more than 20 plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally. At the time of show more his death he was Chairman of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation. Havel received many recognitions, including the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, the Order of Canada, the freedom medal of the Four Freedoms Award, the Ambassador of Conscience Award and the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award. Havel died in his home in 2011. He was the author of many poetry collections and plays including, The Garden Party, The Beggar's Opera, Mountain Hotel and The Pig. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Important events
- Prague Spring (1968), Velvet Revolution (1968)
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 943.7105092 — History & geography History of Europe Central Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech, Poland, Hungary Czech Republic and Slovakia Czech Republic
- LCC
- DB2241 .H38 .A25 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Austria – Liechtenstein – Hungary – Czechoslovakia History of Austria. Liechtenstein. Hungary. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia History By period Czechoslovak Republic, 1918-1992
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 189
- Popularity
- 168,889
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 2
