Description
Traces the enduring relevance of Vaclav Havel's visionary thought and writings.
Václav Havel (1936–2011), the long-imprisoned dissident, playwright and author who became the celebrated Czech president, has been commended for many accomplishments . But he remains unrecognised for the most enduring: his prophetic vision, beautifully articulated and vitally needed today. It is a vision of values at work and of sheer intelligence and goodwill, anchored in a restated humanism and awareness of transcendent authority.
Drawing on his writings and speeches, Roger Lipsey interprets Havel’s wisdom for new generations. Havel’s interests were varied: he addressed politics, leadership, the role of the individual, civil society, conscience and much more. He contributed self-sacrificingly to the Eastern European transition from communism to democracy, considering the issues facing his region and the world with a unique blend of humanity, good sense and fearlessness. But above all, as he identified in a 1997 talk in Kyiv, he believed that ‘the crucial task of our time [is] the quest for a new global sense of responsibility’. Much of his thought returned to this necessity.
Written both for familiar readers and those new to his work, this is a rich assessment of the life and ideas of Václav Havel, the conscience and mirror of the twentieth century.
- Uncovers the unrecognised and beautifully articulated wisdom of Havel and how it can benefit new generations
- Author draws on his writings and speeches to provide a rich account of the life and ideas of the former Czech president
- Written for both well-versed readers and those new to Havel's work