10 Recommended Books to Learn About the Prague Spring! To Understand the History of Prague More Deeply
Introduction
In this article, I will introduce recommended reference books for learning about the 1968 "Prague Spring" Soviet invasion (the Czechoslovakia incident) that I have previously introduced on this blog.
Currently, the Russia-Ukraine war shows no signs of ending, but the "Prague Spring" incident holds significant meaning for understanding the history of the Soviet Union, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
So, what exactly was the "Prague Spring"? It is summarized as follows in "100 de Meicho: Václav Havel's 'The Power of the Powerless'" by Czech literature researcher Kenichi Abe.
Czechoslovakia, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, declared its independence as a nation in 1918 after World War I. After independence, under President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who was also a philosopher, various cultures flourished, from the writer Karel Čapek to Karel Teige, an art theorist who promoted avant-garde art. The "Slav Epic" by the painter Alphonse Mucha, who is also popular in Japan, was unveiled to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.
However, in 1938, the Munich Agreement, concluded by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy without the presence of the parties involved—Czechoslovakia—allowed for the cession of the Sudetenland, which had a large German population, to Germany. Furthermore, the following year, Czechoslovakia was dismantled, and the Czech lands became the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (Slovakia became independent under a puppet regime). At this time, Czechoslovakia disappeared from the map of Europe.
When World War II ended, some leaders in Czechoslovakia sought to move closer to the Soviet Union. The background to this move was the vivid memory of the country's collapse due to the Munich Agreement before the war, and the strong feeling of having been "betrayed" by Britain and France. In 1946, the Communist Party became the leading party, and by 1948, a de facto socialist system was established.
Entering the 1960s, as the economy stagnated, movements seeking reform emerged from within the Communist Party. In 1968, under the leadership of First Secretary Alexander Dubček, a cultural liberalization policy was promoted under the slogan "Socialism with a human face." This movement was called the "Prague Spring."
However, the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union, did not tolerate this movement, and on August 20 of the same year, the Warsaw Pact forces, with the Soviet army as the main force, invaded the country, leading to the so-called "Czechoslovakia incident." Dubček and other leaders were forced to resign, and subsequently, under the new president Gustáv Husák, a stricter system called the "normalization" regime was established. The expression "normalization" was used to mean that the democratization path of the Prague Spring was "abnormal" and that it was returning to the "normal" system that existed before it.
The 1970s that followed are said to be the grayest era for Czech culture. Censorship and surveillance were rampant, and citizens were suspicious of one another.
Kenichi Abe's "100 de Meicho: Václav Havel's 'The Power of the Powerless'" is a wonderful work that explains the complex situation of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in an easy-to-understand way.
Václav Havel's "The Power of the Powerless" is an incomparable masterpiece, but Professor Kenichi Abe's book, which explains it so clearly, is also a phenomenal volume.
Now that I have given an overview of the "Prague Spring," I will begin the book introductions. I have explained more details in each of the links, so please take a look at those as well.
1"The 10-Year Trajectory of 'Solidarity': Poland, The Crushed Reform of Czechoslovakia" - Recommended for understanding the flow of the Prague Spring
This book is the third volume in the series "NHK Special: The 20th Century of Socialism," and it is a work written about the anti-Soviet movement in Poland at the end of the Cold War and the Prague Spring incident that occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968.
I picked up this book because I was looking for something that explained the Prague Spring.
This book specializes in the situation in Poland at the end of the Cold War and the Prague Spring, and in its 270 pages, each is discussed in about half the space.
There are surprisingly few books that provide over 100 pages of explanation just on the Prague Spring, so such a substantial explanation was very welcome.
Furthermore, it provides an easy-to-understand explanation not only of the 1968 Prague Spring but also of the stages leading up to it, making it clear why Prague moved toward a unique socialist system and why the Soviet Union tried to crush it thoroughly. It carefully follows the flow of history, making it very suitable for grasping the background of the incident. It also covers the path to the Velvet Revolution in 1989, so it thoroughly covers the period before and after the Prague Spring.
It is rich in photographs, making it easy to visualize the situation at the time, and it is the perfect book for getting an overview of the Prague Spring.
2Josef Koudelka, "Invasion 68: Prague" - A masterpiece photo book! How did the citizens of Prague face the tanks!
This book is a collection of photographs by photographer Josef Koudelka, capturing the Soviet invasion of Prague.
A massive number of tanks and fully armed soldiers swarmed the beautiful city of Prague, suppressing it with force.
As a result, the Prague Spring, which sought freedom from oppression, came to a complete end.
This work allows you to realistically experience the tense situation in Prague.
And this book contains 249 photographs.
Every one of them is a shocking photograph.
Every time I turned a page, a chill ran through my entire body and I got goosebumps. This is no exaggeration. That is how shocking the photographs included here are.
In particular, the photograph of Prague citizens facing the tanks is so powerful it leaves you speechless. You can only stand there in a daze.
This incident occurred in 1968. That was a little over 50 years ago. I couldn't believe that something like this happened in Prague just 50 years ago. Tanks marching through the very heart of that beautiful city, armed soldiers pointing their guns at Prague citizens... and the Prague citizens trying to resist not with violence, but with words and non-violence. I am deeply moved by that sight...
In this work, you can hear not only the photographs but also explanations of what the Prague Spring was, why the Soviet invasion occurred, and how the citizens of Prague stood up to the tanks. This explanation is also extremely easy to understand, and you can learn how the citizens of Prague bravely stood up to absurd violence with 'words' and 'humanity'.
This book teaches us surprising facts. I felt sincere respect for the courage, culture, and humanity of the people of Prague who continued to resist with non-violence. I was so moved that I almost cried while reading it.
The photographs included here have astonishing power. I hope everyone can feel that impact.
It is a book that is hard to find, but you might be able to find it as a used book or at a large library. If you find it, I highly recommend you pick it up. This is one book I absolutely want to recommend.
3Victor Sebestyen, 'Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire' - A masterpiece recommended for learning the history of the collapse of the communist bloc!
The content told in this book is surprisingly global. I think that is obvious if you look at the table of contents and photos below.
Not only the Soviet Union itself, but many countries and regions such as the United States, Poland, the Czech Republic, Berlin, Hungary, Romania, and Afghanistan are discussed in this book.
And it is told in chronological order with Sebestyen's vivid style. This was a thrilling and stimulating read. Surprising facts that make you go 'What!?' appear one after another. Furthermore, you will encounter the surprise of 'So that's how those two things are connected!' many times.
What surprised me the most was the presence of Pope John Paul II in Poland.
I learned about the role the Roman Catholic Pope played in the Cold War and what a monumental figure John Paul II was. I had goosebumps the entire time I was reading that section. I was struck like a bolt of lightning, realizing that such a great person existed in that era. I feel that the significance of encountering this book is immense, if only for learning about that history.
This book examines society at the end of the Cold War from a broad, global perspective. It is a masterpiece that analyzes the process of collapse chronologically and brings to light the interrelationships between various countries. This is a wonderful work. It is a gem that I want to reread again and again.
What was the Cold War? What was happening at the end of the Soviet bloc? You can learn that our world is connected to those events in an unbroken line.
This is also a must-read masterpiece for learning about the Prague Spring. Why not pick up a copy?
4Victor Sebestyen, 'Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution' – Recommended for learning about the major Cold War event in Eastern Europe that shocked the world!
This book is a work written about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which occurred more than 10 years before the Prague Spring.
What makes this event different from the Prague Spring is that the Hungarian side fought back thoroughly against the Soviets, leading to intense combat. Moreover, Hungary achieved a great victory by forcing the Soviet army to withdraw once.
However, that joy was short-lived; the returning Soviet army carried out a massive bombardment that left the streets of Budapest in ruins. It was total destruction. Once it reached this point, there was nothing that civilian armaments could do. In the blink of an eye, Hungary was suppressed and placed completely under Soviet control.
This event dealt a tremendous shock to the Central and Eastern European world under Soviet rule.
It served as an example of what would happen if you stood up to the Soviet Union.
They also learned that when things like this happened, the Western bloc would not help them and would abandon them without a second thought.
From this point on, revolutionary movements in the Eastern bloc remained dormant for some time.
In Prague, Czechoslovakia, the 'Prague Spring' movement occurred about 10 years later, but this too was forcibly suppressed by the invasion of Soviet troops.
The direction of oppression in Central and Eastern Europe under Soviet rule was determined by this Hungarian Revolution. In that sense, this Hungarian Revolution can be called a very important event.
This book shows us the course of such a historical event in its entirety. It is truly like watching a vivid documentary program.
I want everyone to experience Victor Sebestyen's exquisite storytelling. It is a very interesting book. It provides many lessons for us living in the modern age. It is a highly recommended book.
5Odd Arne Westad, 'The Cold War: A World History' – A recommended general history covering the world during the Cold War era
As I was born in 1990, I did not experience the Cold War era. To be honest, I rarely had the opportunity to learn about the world during the Cold War, and I knew almost nothing about it.
However, even someone like me can read this book with ease, and it teaches me many surprising facts. It explains the flow of world history in a very easy-to-understand and stimulating way. It is a large-scale history book that allows you to learn about the history of the entire world, from Europe and Asia to Central and South America and Africa, with the US-Soviet Cold War as its axis.
You might have an image of history books being dry reading material, but you can get so immersed in this that it feels like reading a story. This is a highly recommended book.
6Václav Havel, 'The Power of the Powerless' - A must-read essay by the Czech president! We who are complicit in totalitarianism without knowing it
Let me say this first: this book is shocking. It had one of the highest impacts of any book I have ever read. I was already interested in the Prague Spring, but after reading this book, it made me rethink the flow of what was happening in Prague at that time, and how they fought and won their freedom until the collapse of the Soviet bloc.
This book provides a very important perspective even for Japan, which has become a difficult place to live in, thrown into chaos by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time for this book to be appreciated!
Václav Havel was originally a playwright, but later became the president of the Czech Republic.
Havel also experienced the Prague Spring and consistently showed resistance to Soviet intervention and the totalitarianism that suppresses freedom. The fundamental philosophy behind his activities is written in 'The Power of the Powerless'.
I will say it again and again: this is a book that should be read now! It is a masterpiece among masterpieces! It is a work I definitely want you to pick up.
7Václav Havel, 'The Beggar's Opera' - A masterpiece play that is a must-read to understand the atmosphere after the Prague Spring!
Václav Havel is not very well known in Japan, and his works are even less famous. I have introduced the Prague Spring and Havel on this blog before, but I think it is a great pity that this person is not known. Havel is a person who deserves much more attention!
Havel's philosophy and what is contained in his plays have an enormous significance for us living in modern Japan.
And this book is the perfect work to feel that.
The work 'The Beggar's Opera' itself is, of course, interesting, but what is excellent is the commentary written in this book. If you read this commentary, it is explained very clearly what was happening in Prague at that time, what kind of person Havel was, and what Havel was thinking and trying to convey to us.
This book is simply wonderful. I think it can be called an essential document for understanding the Prague Spring.
8Kazuya Harue, 'Prague Spring' - A recommended novel to understand the atmosphere of the Prague Spring incident
This work holds a special place in my heart.
I embarked on a journey across 13 countries over 80 days starting in March 2019. Prague in the Czech Republic was one of my destinations. Among all the wonderful cities I encountered on this trip, Prague became my absolute favorite.
A few months before setting out on this trip, I picked up this book, thinking, 'If I'm going to Prague, I have to read this.' I was captivated by the beauty of Prague described in this book. This work skillfully depicts the history, culture, and spirit of Prague. I feel that it was precisely because I read this book that I was able to appreciate its charm even more while I was there. That is how thoroughly this work conveys the allure of Prague.
Through this novel, we readers learn about the situation in the Czech Republic between 1967 and 1968. At the time I read it, I knew almost nothing about the Soviet Union. I had barely even heard the name 'Prague Spring.' However, the author explains things carefully throughout the story, making that period of history very easy to understand. You can fully enjoy this work even without prior knowledge. In fact, I think it is even more interesting for those who don't have that background, as they can learn about the situation in the Czech Republic at that time.
And, the line that left the biggest impression on me in this work is, without a doubt, this one.
Still, it is beautiful. Why is Prague so beautiful!
Prague can be summed up in these words!
How many times did these words cross my mind when I actually visited Prague myself!
Is there any other phrase that captures the charm of Prague so perfectly?
A beauty that takes your breath away. And it is Prague where these words come to mind along with that sigh.
Ah, I want to go back to Prague. It was truly a wonderful city. This book is one that allows you to feel the charm of such a Prague. It is not just about the scenery or the buildings being beautiful; you can taste the beauty of Prague, including its history, culture, and spirit. This novel is a must-read for anyone planning to visit Prague.
9Kundera's 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' - To understand the atmosphere of communist rule after the Prague Spring
I have introduced the Prague Spring and the subsequent Soviet rule on this blog before, and Kundera was an author who lived through that very era.
And this work is one of the best for understanding the atmosphere of Prague after the Prague Spring.
Let's take a look at the synopsis of this work.
This book is a shocking masterpiece published by Milan Kundera, the greatest contemporary European writer from the Czech Republic, during his exile in Paris, which immediately threw the whole world into a whirlwind of excitement. A tragedy of love followed by Tomas, a Don Juan and excellent surgeon, Tereza, a girl from the countryside, and Sabina, a free-spirited painter, against the backdrop of the 'Prague Spring' and the era of its decline. Is the infinite lightness of a once-in-a-lifetime life truly unbearable? Sweet and sorrowful. The ultimate romance novel.
I decided to read this work to understand the atmosphere of Prague after the 'Prague Spring.' In that respect, you can strongly feel that atmosphere in this work.
The protagonist, Tomáš himself, ends up losing his job and facing hardship after the Prague Spring. You can realistically grasp the atmosphere of the difficult life that Prague's intellectuals were forced to endure.
Furthermore, from the middle of this work onwards, the author's analysis of this Soviet domination is told through the novel. It is quite powerful and breathtaking. I was particularly impressed by the scene told in the chapter 'Part VI: The Grand March.' Here, the vulgarity of the West's performance in its campaign to overthrow communism is exposed.
Whether it was the Nazi occupation of Prague during World War II or the Prague Spring of 1968, in the end, no one helped, and they were abandoned by the world. Even now, the West promotes campaigns to overthrow communism, but it is ultimately nothing more than a performance for their own benefit. I felt such scathing criticism from this chapter. This is quite shocking. I felt that this was content that could only be written by Kundera, who experienced the Prague Spring and is well-versed in the Western world through his exile.
'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' was a work that allowed me to feel the atmosphere of Prague after the 'Prague Spring'.
10Tom Stoppard's 'Rock 'n' Roll' - A Masterpiece Play Influenced by Kundera and Havel
This work is a play by the Czech-born playwright Tom Stoppard, and it was performed in Japan in 2010 starring Masachika Ichimura.
Although Tom Stoppard was born in Czechoslovakia, he left his homeland due to the Nazi invasion and eventually became a British citizen.
Therefore, his homeland of Czechoslovakia was very important to him. It is this 'Rock 'n' Roll' work in which he depicts a Prague oppressed by the Soviet Union.
In fact, he was strongly influenced by the works of Czech President Václav Havel and Milan Kundera, whom I have introduced so far, and this work would not have been possible without these two.
For those who want to know more about the Prague Spring, and those who want to know more about Havel and Kundera, this is a work I highly recommend.
Extra Edition: Visiting 'Reduta Jazz Club' - A Legendary Club That Continued to Broadcast Czech Culture Even During the Soviet Oppression Era
In this blog, I introduced the 'Havel Autobiography' by playwright Václav Havel, who became the President of the Czech Republic. 'Havel Autobiography' introduced.
And in that book, a certain 'jazz club' was written about. When I read that part, I was quite surprised.
That is because when I visited Prague in 2019, the jazz club I happened to stop by was that very 'Reduta Jazz Club.' (Hereinafter referred to as Reduta)
I visited Reduta because I saw information online that it was a long-established and recommended jazz club. I was truly surprised that Reduta had played such an enormous role in telling the history of the Czech Republic.
So, in this article, I will introduce that famous long-established jazz club, 'Reduta.' I hope this will be a useful reference when you go to Prague.
Conclusion
That concludes my introduction of recommended reference books for learning about the 'Prague Spring'.
I honestly do not know if Russia's current invasion of Ukraine is similar to the "Prague Spring." If anything, the Hungarian Revolution might be more similar in that it was thoroughly attacked by the Soviet military, but in any case, I believe that learning history is extremely important for thinking about what is happening in the world today.
The relationship between Russia (the Soviet Union) and Eastern European countries is extremely complex. And with the interests of Western countries also intertwined, the political situation becomes so complicated that it is enough to give you a headache.
However, the Czech Republic is my favorite country. I cannot help but have respect for the history and culture of this country.
I think it is very meaningful for us Japanese people to learn about the Czech Republic, a country that has spun a proud culture and history while being surrounded by major powers.
I hope you will pick up the books introduced in this article.
That concludes "10 Recommended Books to Learn About the Prague Spring! Learning from Major Events in World History."
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