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| Genre/Form: | History |
|---|---|
| Document Type: | Book |
| All Authors / Contributors: |
Miroslav Vanek; Pavel Mücke |
| ISBN: | 9780199342723 0199342725 |
| OCLC Number: | 927445876 |
| Description: | 304 pages. |
| Contents: | Acknowledgements: The Privilege of Listening to the Voices of Memory -- 1. I Want to be Free! : Freedom as a Fundamental Human Value -- 2. The Family under Socialism and in the Whirlwind of Transformation -- 3. Friends and the Others : How Czechs Evaluate Foreigners and Foreign Countries -- 4. Education : A Gateway to Success in Life? -- 5. From the Requirement to Work to Looking for Work -- 6. Perception of Free Time : Work, Family, and Leisure -- 7. Us and Them : Eternal Predestination? -- Appendix 1: Photographs by Jindřich Štreit -- Appendix 2: Our Narrators. |
| Series Title: | Oxford oral history series. |
| Responsibility: | Miroslav Vanek; Pavel Mücke. |
Abstract:
Reviews
Publisher Synopsis
[A]mbitious... In sum, Vanek and Mucke's 'from below' perspective breaks much new ground (it scarcely mentions dissidents!), challenges preconceived notions of the communist polity, and brings to life, not least in the evocative brooding photographs of Jindrich treit, the subtle compromises, contradictions, colors, and 'messiness' of everyday life in 'normalized' Czechoslovakia. As such it will, I'm sure, prove very useful for teachers of history modules oncommunist Eastern Europe and political science courses on states and societies. * Kevin McDermott, Journal of Modern History * The voices and memories that Vanek and Mucke so carefully heard and preserved give this work a rare and special human multi-dimensionality, and enhance appreciation of oral history and non-tangible heritage. * Cathleen M. Giustino, Slavic Review * [S]hould be required reading for anyone studying the contemporary history of East Central Europe and of interest to anyone engaged in the theory and practice of social and political transformation generally... In form and content, Velvet Revolutions is a model of oral history scholarship and a fitting introduction to the remarkable body of work of the Czech Center for Oral History * Michael Kilburn, Oral History Review * [P]ersistently thoughtful and subtly argued....This is a fascinating book precisely because it gives no simple answers. Instead, it shows the power of oral history in undermining a stereotyped historical past. Above all, through conveying a whole range of contrasting memories it undermines the stereotypes of grand history, and helps us to see the complexity of individual life experience in each successive generation. * Paul Thompson, Oral History Review * Miroslav Vanek and Pavel Mucke ... have done something remarkable ... Velvet Revolutions: An Oral History of Czech Society is seminal. It is the first work of its kind, and hopefully Vanek and Mucke have begun a tradition of recording Czech oral history so that other works will reach an English-speaking audience. For any researcher of Czech culture, Slovak culture, or communism, this book must find its way into his or her collection. The narrativesand insights are indispensable, and the book will become foundational literature for students of Czechoslovak communism from the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution. * Benjamin Sorensen, International Social Science Review * Read more...
