Synopses & Reviews
From the former president of the Czech Republic comes this first-hand account of his years in office and the transition to democracy following the fall of Communism.
A renowned playwright, Václav Havel became one of Czechoslovakia's most prominent dissidents under Communist rule – and the president after the Velvet Revolution, making him a key player in European politics. Here we see first-hand the challenges of creating a new government, tempered with Havel's revealing insights into the difficulties posed by an era of increased globalization and conflict. He discusses not only the situation in his own country, but also such pressing issues as the future of the European Union, the war in Iraq, and the role of the United States in contemporary affairs. Written with an eye towards both the political and the personal and a witty, well-honed eloquence, To the Castle and Back is a rare glimpse into the minds of one of the most important political figures of modern times.
Review:
"An artful, sly and touching self-portrait . . . illuminate[s] the implausible incongruities that make up Havel's strange and appealing personality."
--The New York Times Book Review
"A political memoir like no other . . . A compelling record of what candour and moral authority can . . . achieve in politics."
--The Economist
"Even among the handful of politicians who can rival Havel's personal qualities, who can write like him? His calm good humor never breaks, even as his eyes remain fixed on the cliff the Western world is barreling toward."--Bloomberg News
"A fresh and intimate self-portrait . . . A diarylike glimpse into a leader simultaneously confronting challenges both major . . . and mundane."
--Booklist
"An illuminating memoir by an admirable writer and leader."
--Kirkus Reviews
From the Hardcover edition.
Review:
“Fascinating...Havel displays [democratization] in heartbreaking, frustrating reality.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review:
“An artful, sly, and touching self portrait.”
The New York Times Book Review
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 lives in Prague.
Paul Wilson lived in Czechoslovakia from 1967 to 1977. Since his return to Canada in 1978, he has translated more than twenty books of Czech literature into English, including novels by Josef Å kvoreck?, Bohumil Hrabal, and Ivan Klíma, and most of Václav Havel’s prose works. He is based in Toronto and works as a freelance writer and editor.
From the Hardcover edition.
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