Havel

de David Barton

"Va clav Havel (1936-2011), the famous Czech dissident, ex-con, and playwright, was there when a half million people came to Wenceslas Square to demand an end to communism in 1989. Many came to hear him call for a free Czechoslovakia, for democratic elections, and a return to Europe. The demonstrators roared when he spoke. 'Havel to the castle,' they chanted-meaning Havel for President. And a few weeks later, Havel became a most unusual President. He was sometimes misunderstood and not always popular, but by the time of his death in 2011, the world recognized Havel as one of the most prominent figures of the twentieth century. In this intimate and sweeping portrayal of Havel, David Barton reveals the eccentricities of the last President of Czechoslovakia, and the first President of the Czech Republic. Born into one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Prague, he was the constant subject of attention and an artistic eccentric in a family of businessmen. A young Havel and his family was cast by the communist takeover and labelled as class enemies. Like Dante, Havel travelled a dark road that ironically provided the 'hidden treasures' he needed not only to reconnect not only to his own 'ground of being' but to the traditions of civic society. This biography is the story of Havel's inward journey in his underground years and thus the story of how Havel, the outsider, became the ultimate insider as president of the nation. Havel interweaves the stories from Jan Patoc ka, the twentieth-century Czech philosopher, known for his legendary underground lectures; and Jir i Ha jek, a high-ranking member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party who turned against the government and became a mentor and colleague to Havel. Both of these men-one a fervent anti-communist, and the other a former communist official-played a central role in helping Havel form a humanistic opposition to the government"--