Scan barcode
dsbressette's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book...I have read a lot of accounts of the Holocaust, but I knew nothing of the role of Czechoslovakia in World War II. I appreciated the history lessons and personal stories in this book. Albright is an incredibly interesting woman and a great writer.
mhoechsmann's review against another edition
4.0
This book offers an intriguing perspective on Czech history during WWII and the lead up to the communist coup that held Czechoslovakia under the Iron Curtain. I was drawn to this book because of the time I spend studying abroad and my personal affinity for Prague and the Czech Republic. Albright easily keeps the reader engaged, but occasionally has the tendency for unrelated tangents. Overall excellent read.
zwyrdish's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent history lesson in an engaging, autobiographical package. I pulled the book from a display at the library after the author's death. The timing seemed right to learn more about Hitler's rise to power and how it impacted Europe, particularly eastern Europe, particularly Czechoslovakia. Albright's life, education, and diplomatic experience work together to make her narrative both personal and credible.
linesuponapage's review against another edition
5.0
I borrowed this book from the library after my father recommended it to me. The book was heartbreaking, uplifting, maddening and a loving legacy to the fight that people have in them to overcome evil tyrany.
Mrs. Albright is a wonderful writer who you can tell loving researched this book to the full extent of her brilliant mind's capacity and then delved into historical records of family and compadres who lived in her birth country.
This book was deep, full of detail and took me while to read because I wanted to soak in all the spirits of those who lived in this book.
I didn't know much about the history of Czechoslovakia until reading this book. I knew they were entrenched in the nazis takeover but was unaware as to how many citizens lost their lives in the war.
I highly recommend this book. If you admired Mrs. Albright when she was Secretary of State you will become even more enamored with her learning of her early childhood and the smarts that she shows in this writing.
Mrs. Albright is a wonderful writer who you can tell loving researched this book to the full extent of her brilliant mind's capacity and then delved into historical records of family and compadres who lived in her birth country.
This book was deep, full of detail and took me while to read because I wanted to soak in all the spirits of those who lived in this book.
I didn't know much about the history of Czechoslovakia until reading this book. I knew they were entrenched in the nazis takeover but was unaware as to how many citizens lost their lives in the war.
I highly recommend this book. If you admired Mrs. Albright when she was Secretary of State you will become even more enamored with her learning of her early childhood and the smarts that she shows in this writing.
libswagmenter's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really poignant history of the CR in the most eventful years of the country's history. I do wish I had bought it in printed form rather than on my e-reader, because I frequently found myself wanting to flip around. There is also a timeline/directory of persons in the back of the book that would have been more accessible in paperback form. Nonetheless, the writing was really accessible while still detailed. The tragic stories relating to the author's family helped to break up the times when the history got a little overwhelming. I am probably a little biased because I love Czech history and I lived in Prague, so the Czech names are familiar to me, but I highly recommend this book.
eehancock's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to most of this on my way home to Baltimore for Christmas. It was interesting & I waffled between rating it 3-4 stars but I found some of her descriptions to be irritating & had a hard time listening to more than 2 hours in a row. However, having gone to Baltimore County public schools, we didn't quite get to WWI in history so I felt like I learned a lot about Eastern European history, Czech history in particular in the years leading up to & during WWII.
radbear76's review against another edition
4.0
An informative combination of biography and history. A wonderful mixture of high level history and personal anecdotes and stories. Definitely worth the time to read.
mollyisfullybooked's review against another edition
4.0
Given that former Sec. of State Madeleine Albright is one of my personal heroes and that I know admittedly nothing about Czechoslovakia during WWII, this seemed like an incredibly interesting book. I was not wrong. I love the WWII time period, and this reads like a historical fiction book. Except none of it is fictitious. Great read.