Abstract
Czechoslovakia’s 1989 revolution has received surprisingly little detailed treatment from historians. The glossily ‘Velvet’ epithet suggests its best-known feature: a smooth and non-violent transfer of power. Even a cursory glance at the existing literature on the topic reveals that accounts of the revolution invariably limit themselves to the experiences and perspectives of former political dissidents, the overwhelming majority of whom lived in and around the capital, Prague, at the expense of the former state’s many other important cities and regions. The fact that so many dissidents—most famously Václav Havel—went on to achieve high political office after 1989 confirms the ‘elite’ nature of the historiography. Over the past few years, only a very few historians (most notably Michal Pullmann in his Konec experimentu of 2011) have dared to take on this dominant narrative. James Krapfl’s account is not nearly as controversial, but will probably prove as significant a contribution, offering what many have been waiting for: a glimpse of Czechoslovakia’s revolution ‘from below’.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call