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Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948 Audiobook
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(3.99) - 1,341 listener ratings
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“A riveting tale of her family’s experience in Europe during World War II [and] a well-wrought political history of the region, told with great authority. . . . More than a memoir, this is a book of facts and action, a chronicle of a war in progress from a partisan faithful to the idea of Czechoslovakian democracy.” -- Los Angeles Times
Drawn from her own memory, her parents’ written reflections, and interviews with contemporaries, the former US Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Albright's tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring
Before she turned twelve, Madeleine Albright’s life was shaken by some of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century: the Nazi invasion of her native Prague, the Battle of Britain, the attempted genocide of European Jewry, the allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War.
In Prague Winter, Albright reflects on her discovery of her family’s Jewish heritage many decades after the war, on her Czech homeland’s tangled history, and on the stark moral choices faced by her parents and their generation. Often relying on eyewitness descriptions, she tells the story of how millions of ordinary citizens were ripped from familiar surroundings and forced into new roles as exile leaders and freedom fighters, resistance organizers and collaborators, victims and killers. These events of enormous complexity are shaped by concepts familiar to any growing child: fear, trust, adaptation, the search for identity, the pressure to conform, the quest for independence, and the difference between right and wrong.
Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind, a journey with universal lessons that is simultaneously a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history. It serves as a guide to the future through the lessons of the past, as seen through the eyes of one of the international community’s most respected and fascinating figures in history. Albright and her family’s experiences provide an intensely human lens through which to view the most political and tumultuous years in modern history.
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"This is an exceptional, personal account of the author's life and more broadly, the Czech people before, during, and after World War II. It enhances some of my other recent reading, most notably the Oxford Time Travel series and The Zookeeper's Wife. Highly recommended."
— Carolyn (4 out of 5 stars)
Prague Winter Listener Reviews
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" When she is telling her family's story it is fascinating - all of the history she throws in about Czechoslovakia, not so much... "
— Roxane, 2/9/2014 -
" Not the easiest read but certainly a unique look at WWII. Albright is a great writer. "
— Nancy, 2/4/2014 -
" I wish there was more information on Sudetenland (but there was more than I've seen elsewhere). I didn't find the story that "personal" as it's titled but it was a great history lesson. "
— Mila, 1/30/2014 -
" Boy, am I happy that I didn't buy this book but borrowed it from the public library. I've done extensive reading about WWII and the Holocaust. This book didn't provide any new information. I was looking forward to reading about Albright's personal memories of the time. Less personal information, more history lessons. I skimmed through it, again being very thankful I hadn't bought the book. "
— Cheri, 1/15/2014 -
" This book had a number of interesting sections in regard to Czechoslovakia history/politics before and after WWII. However, in the middle section, the narrative "dragged" a bit. A good read, however. "
— Jim, 1/1/2014 -
" Wanted to like this book but honestly...not my favorite. The book tempted me as a historical biography, but I found the history part overshadowed the human story. For me not being a history buff, I needed more to keep me interested. This would be analogous to a history lover reading a book about the diseases of the 20th century that killed famous people....and finding it was largely focused on pathogenic microbiology. I'd love it...and history buffs would most likely not! I just think its been promoted poorly. My book group picked this for our recent read ...this was a painful read for me. "
— Kathie, 12/29/2013 -
" A very enjoyable memoir with lots of history. "
— Janet, 12/26/2013 -
" History of WWII and it's affect on Czech republic, from a different viewpoint. Madeline writes from her memories, from notes she found in her fathers belongings & from research. "
— Laura, 12/20/2013 -
" Dry and poorly written. Hopefully her talk in two weeks is more interesting... "
— Kate, 12/19/2013 -
" I knew very little about the situation in Czechoslovakia before and after WWII, and found Albright's account to be really interesting. "
— Lisa, 12/16/2013 -
" This is a good book. I learned a lot about not only about Madeleine Albright childhood and family but about World war II. What a horrendous time in history! "
— Nancy, 11/29/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book; it is an intricate history lesson intertwined perfectly with a personal story. It is well written - I read this much more quickly than I expected! Recommend this book strongly! "
— Michele, 11/25/2013 -
" Prague Winter is a very well-written textbook. The subtitle, though, should really be "A History of Czechoslovakian Involvement in World War II"; if that appeals to you, then you are part of the (very) small target audience for this book. "
— Joe, 9/20/2013 -
" Could not put this down. "
— Leslie, 5/8/2013 -
" Great insight into the war years from a child's prospective "
— Bob, 12/22/2012 -
" A compelling, personal account of Madeleine Albright's family history in the former Czechoslovakia before, during and after World War II. If you know Prague, this book will have particular resonance for you. An outstanding read! "
— Sue, 10/25/2012 -
" A great review of the pre WW2 history leading into the Nazi invasion of Prague. Madeleine Albright outlines the take over with her own family history. "
— Kath, 7/16/2012
About Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright (1937-2022) served as America’s sixty-fourth secretary of state from 1997 to 2001, the first woman to hold that position. Her distinguished career also includes positions on Capitol Hill, on the National Security Council, and as US ambassador to the United Nations. She also wrote several New York Times bestselling books.