Free Download To the Castle and Back, by Vaclav Havel
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To the Castle and Back, by Vaclav Havel
Free Download To the Castle and Back, by Vaclav Havel
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Review
“Moving and often beautifully expressed....To the Castle and Back gives us any number of sharp portrayals.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review“An artful, sly, and touching self portrait.” —The New York Times Book Review“Fascinating...Havel displays [democratization] in heartbreaking, frustrating reality.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer
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About the Author
Václav Havel was born in Czechoslovakia in 1936. His plays have been produced around the world, and he is the author of many influential essays on totalitarianism and dissent. He was a founding spokesman for Charter 77 and served as president of the Czech Republic until 2003. He died in 2011 at the age of 75.
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Product details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (May 6, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780307388452
ISBN-13: 978-0307388452
ASIN: 030738845X
Product Dimensions:
5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
4.1 out of 5 stars
15 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#221,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Maybe we can be forgiven for wishing that Vaclav Havel, one of the truly amazing figures of our time, had written a more traditional, linear, and straightforward memoir of the Velvet Revolution that brought him to power, and his experiences as president, first of Czechoslovakia, then the Czech Republic. Those were years that pulsed with excitement; and if our hopes that this philosopher-president could remake the world (or his own country, even) in his own image were wildly over-optimistic, then at least his example continues to shine as evidence that history is always unpredictable, and amazing things are truly possible.But instead of a chronological incident-by-incident description of what happened in those years from 1989 onward, Havel has given us this unorothodox book which is divided in three parts: his answers to an interviewer's question (the same interviewer with whom he collaborated on the fascinating "Distrubing the Peace" just before the revolution); excerpts from his official directions to his staff while president; and more recent reflections of his life in the post-presidency (largely written while on sabbatical in the United States).There is plenty here to keep interested people enthralled: insights into contemporary world leaders; descriptions of those heady days which saw one-time "dissidents" elevated to power; explanations of why Havel acted as he did in various issues facing the Czech Republic (much of this material might be pretty much incomprehensible to many non-European readers). We also get stunningly honest glimpses into Havel's personality-- sometimes witty, often persnickety, always overly conflicted. These are, perhaps, the most fascinating aspects of the book (though, from a scholarly viewpoint, perhaps the least important). We learn that Havel loves Americans (so polite [!], he says; such good drivers [!!]; with such beautiful teeth-- though they eat these gigantic sandwiches and wash them down the Coca-cola. Interesting? Maybe. Important? Hardly.Perhaps, from the viewpoint of the student of history and politics, it would have been more useful for Havel to concetrate for a longer time on, say, his relations with Klaus; the problems of privatization; the Czech Republic's relationship to NATO or the EU. But one senses that, had he done so, we would have a much less humane (and human) book here-- and letting personality and humanity shine through beyond the expected constructs of society is what much of Havel's lifework has been about. Certainly, this book irritates at times. Sometimes, one senses that by jumping about from subject to subject, from 2005 to 1994 to 1999 to 2004 again, much is left unsaid and much escapes sufficient analysis. Certainly, there is some kind of absurdist pattern to Havel's repeating certain brief extracts from his journal (about how he wants his pike prepared; the bat in the closet; needing a linger hose for his garden) over and over again. But what that pattern is precisely escapes most of those approching this book hoping for insights into Havel's perspective on our world and its recent history."To The Castle and Back" is well worth reading for its insights into this marvelous man and his story. It was good of him to share as much of himself with us as he has. But certainly, we shouldn't be surprised that as one of the great iconoclasts of our age, he chose to do so in a manner that was completely and unmistakably his own.
A wonderful insight into the life of the man who became the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the subsequent Czech Republic. Appropriately, the narration often shifts in time, keeping in rhythm with the disjointed nature of Havel’s writing style and personality. Never is there a low, dull moment in the book, for even through the seemingly most typical duties and practices in his office Havel manages to divulge more of his inner workings and feelings in an unmistakably organic manner. Each interaction, even if minuscule and insignificant, has a place in Havel’s development and his experience. The interviews provide a very intimate window into his personal thoughts and reflections as well. Overall, a fascinating read that I would recommend wholeheartedly to anyone interested in the post-communist era in Czechoslovakia and Vaclav Havel himself.
There are several fascinating aspects to this book:1. It contains insights into the difficulty of complaining about "the man" then being "the man." As a dissident he complained bitterly about how things were being run then someone said "OK, lets see if you can do better!"2. It contains insight into the "eastern" mind. This book was like sitting around with my Russian friends over several bottles of vodka and having a giant circular stream of consciousness discussion of everything from politics to romance. Everything is in no particular order yet constantly connected to everything.3. The idea that a good life is a large portion of martyrdom flows through this book. Again this is perhaps something of an eastern mindset. He draws deep meaning from his realization that his job is impossible and his work will fall apart yet it is his duty and his glory to continue.
Since I cam from Czechslovakia, the part that is now the Czech Republic I was very interested what Havel had to say. I have admired him for a long time, and since he was a writer to begin with the book is well written with occasional glimpses of humor.
I like the way in which this book pieced together Vaclav's life experiences, his perspective on things & how the Czech Republic came to be. Well told, well written, easy to follow & read.
I love his candor! Would that a U.S. President would risk writing his (or her?) memoir with such finesse and honesty. Via his description of people, events, his perception of his achievements, his errors/failures, and was deeply impressed by him and grew very fond of him; that said, I never had personal contact with him, but if that had occurred, it may have confirmed my feelings or disappointed me.
To those of us deeply involved in Czech history or culture, this is an essential book. It's a fascinating insider's look at the choices a dissident was forced to make when he became President of a postcommunist country. But for people not deeply familiar with Havel's work, this is not the place to start. First read "Open Letters" and "Disturbing the Peace," then John Keane's (similarly unconventional) biography.
Wonderful, what a man. We went to Prague and stayed with a friend of his! Who feels the same way!
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