Untitled Essay, Research Paper

BOOK REVIEW:

The Magic Lantern, Timothy Garton Ash

The Magic Lantern, Timothy Garton Ash? s personal history of the revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe, is a elaborate book written from the interior of the revolutions. Ash writes of the political transmutation that takes topographic point in Warsaw, Poland ; Budapest, Hungary ; Berlin, Germany ; and Prague, Czechoslovakia. Ash gives great inside informations of these events, and in some instances he ain engagement in the revolutions. This book would be extremely recommended to person with old cognition of the history of these states, or to those who are interested in other Hagiographas by the same writer. I would non urge it, nevertheless for any type of pleasance reading, which I don? T believe it was intended. Though the book does learn a great lesson against communism, and glorifies the people? s peaceable battle for freedom.The book begins with the writer giving his history of the terminal of the revolution in Poland with the triumph of Solidarity ten old ages after it? s birth in Gdansk The reader so follows the writer to Budapest and the Hungarians rebellion. There the people seem to be following rather the same way as the Poles. With success in Hungary the reader is so taken to Berlin, the exact minute of the autumn of the great wall. At this point the writer travels to Prague. The occurrences in Prague are given in great item. The writer is present at the Forum with the revolting parties. The histories in Prague become quite personal as the writer befriends many of the taking figures in the battle against communist regulation. Finally the writer adds his remarks and thoughts looking back one twelvemonth subsequently. He addresses inquiry such as why the revolutions took topographic point in 1989 and non earlier or subsequently. He besides mentions that the adversities are merely get downing for these states and their first efforts at Democracy and a Capitalistic Economy. And eventually he mentions that now Eastern Europe is non so far off from Europe any longer. We now are on the manner to making one Europe.What makes this book possible is the writer? s really elaborate history. Without this these incidents may merely be know to the few really involved. The lone job with this is that Timothy Garton Ash writes from his point of veiw, which may non be the full image. He has his ain beliefs of Democracy, which likely are really similar to those of the English authorities. Obviously his positions have a immense impact on his authorship. Had Ash been a Communist this narrative may hold taken topographic point from the opposing point of position. But this was non the instance, so the opposing position was really seldom known. Besides Ash befriended some of the revolutionists and

puts a lot of emphasis on their views, and put more emphasis on their speeches and their beliefs. But I also believe Ash shared many of the ideas of the revolutionaries, and that he had an influence on them as well. He notes at the very beginning of the book that he gave a speech promoting Democracy, and a particular leader, in Adam Michick, was the man to lead them there. Though Ash?s views may be agreeable to most, it doesn?t allow the reader to develop his/her own views.Timothy Garton Ash also ends the book with some good ideas of the reasons for these revolutions. Ash mentions that many factors combined led to people to revolt in 1989. He compares this year to the revolutions of 1849. One major factor was the economy, which was a wreck from years of communist rule. Another huge factor was Gorbachev. As ruler of the Soviet Union he had new policies. They had loosened their hold on the Eastern European Nations, and had allowed these revolutions to take place without soviet intervention. And above all the people wanted to be free. We also notice that one revolution let to the next. And in each case the next went quicker and much smoother. This shows how the other countries were able to learn from each other?s mistakes. All this combined lead a time of change for the people in 1989 and a New Hope for the future. Ash also mentioned that these revolutions were all peaceful. This may have had much to do with the lack of involvement by the Soviet Union. Plus, I feel the communist governments realized that there was no chance of survival for them. The economies were failing, in general communism was failing, and masses of people were speaking out against them. In most cases they had no choice but to give in.The revolutions of 1989 marked the end on communism in Eastern Europe forever. There, communism was given its chance and it had failed. It was now a time for rebuilding what communism had destroyed. Ash mentions that this will be a long and hard process for all these counties. But they can finally move forward after being kept in the dark while the west prospered.In closing Ash mentions that by the time the reader reads this that many more changes will have taken place. And he is very correct. Though one fact still remains, Communism has not returned. Although many changes have been made in their respective governments, all these nations have maintained a democracy to this point. The best part about it is that they did if for themselves, and they did it peacefully.The Magic Lantern leaves you with a feeling of national pride. And it also gives hope to those nations that are not yet free of communism. Timothy Garton Ash has written a great account of the revolutions of 1989.