Hello, everyone. Today I am reviewing Prague Winter by Madeleine Albright for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): Before Madeleine Albright turned twelve, her life was shaken by the Nazi invasion of her native Prague, the Battle of Britain, the near-total destruction of European Jewry, the Allied Victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War. Drawing on her memory, her parents’ written reflections, interviews with contemporaries, and newly available documents, Albright recounts a tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring.
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. At once a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history, Prague Winter 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.
My review: I loved this quote from the first chapter: Nothing could be more adult than the decisions people were compelled to make during this turbulent era, yet the issues involved would be familiar to any child: How can I be safe? Whom can I trust? What can I believe? And (in the words of the Czech national anthem) “Where is my home?”
I have long admired Madeleine Albright, so I was eager to read this book, which is part memoir, part essential history, as well as as cautionary guide for the future. Though I feel I know a fair amount about World War II, I certainly didn’t know much about it in terms of how it impacted Czechoslovakia and it’s citizens, or the far-reaching effects it had decades later. Finding out later in life that several of her family members were lost to the Holocaust certainly had an influence on her need to learn more about this time in her native country’s history. Albright is a wonderful writer and she has managed to share her very personal story while giving us all a history lesson of the utmost importance.
This should be required reading for any student of history and for anyone who is concerned about our future. I strongly believe that everything that can be put down on paper about World War II, the Holocaust, those who sacrificed their lives and those who quietly worked to save others, must be recorded. Ms. Albright has done that with this moving and powerful book.
Her story, as well as the stories of others that are shared in this book, makes for compelling reading. I recommend this book highly.
About the Author: Madeleine Albright served as America’s sixty-fourth Secretary of State from 1997 – 2001. Her distinguished career also includes positions on Capitol Hill, on the National Security Council, and as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She is a resident of Washington D.C. and Virginia.
If you are interested in being entered for the chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post. I’ll pick a winner on Thursday, March 14th.
Happy Monday.
It sounds like a very interesting book. Is it true that she didn’t know about her Jewish heritage until sometime during her stint as Secretary of State? I’d like to read this book. We all need to take a lesson from history, to know the real story of how people are maligned and marginalized, and what we can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again – to any group of people.
I believe (and my memory may be slightly off) she found out when she was about to be nominated for Secretary of State and she informed the administration about it.
I have admired Ms. Albright for many years. Please include me in her book give-a-way! I hope your Monday is full of sunshine! It is raining/pouring in middle TN.
This sounds like a wonderful and important read. I would love to add it to my collection.
Hugs,
Laura
I would love to read this book. What an outstanding person.
Something funny……..my adopted son was really young and Mrs. Albright was on TV standing next to the president. He said, there is my birth mother. It was hilarious. If you knew about his mother esp. Why he thought this was his birthmom, we have no idea.
Sounds like a wonderful book. I admire her also. Please put me in the drawing!
I would appreciate being entered in your draw for “Prague Winter”, Claudia, and learn more about Madeleine Albright’s story.
An aside: In November, I went to an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. It featured images by the late Czech photographer, Joseph Sudek. He is renowned for his photographs of Prague, having studied photography in the 1920’s, after losing an arm.
I meant to write “Josef” not “Joseph”.
Thank you for offering the giveaway of this book.
Ms. Albright is top on list of women I most admire.
I would love to read this.
Sounds like a very compelling read. I’ve always admired Madeleine Albright and would love to read more about her life and how the Holocaust affected her family. Even if I don’t win your giveaway (and certainly hope I do!), this book will definitely be on my reading list.
Sounds like a very interesting read! Thanks for the opportunity Claudia! ;)
This book really sounds interesting to me. I went to a speech by another Holocaust surviver and it was so facinating and sad. Would you believe that there are people who think that this never happened! I willl have to put this one on my list. I would like to enter your drawing. Either win or lose I will read this book. How did you become a critic for this company?
Hi Claudia, I frequently read books such as this. I am saddened by them and also impressed by the lives of what can only amount to those who were surely heroes. I hope many will buy this book because of who she is and learn much more because as you have said we must not forget this dark dark period of history. I read “Bonhoeffer” recently and cried most of the time I was reading it. He gave his life to God and others and was killed by the Nazis too. Olive
I would LOVE to read this book about a woman I so admire. Many thanks for the chance to win!
Even though these stories are so sad they need to be told..I will never understand why people are so cruel to other people..I will never understand prejudice..Why do some people find it so hard to be kind to others..Why? Please do not put my name in for this book as I have just won and would prefer to give someone else a chance..but I just had to comment on this..
Yes I would love to read this.
I know she wore different broaches/pins notifying how she felt about something or what was going on politically, while she was Secretary of State.
She also looks so much like an older friend of ours who was a big part of my childhood, now long dead, but of Jewish decent and only found out about it later in life.
Christy
I would love to read this. Please enter me in the drawing. Good review, Claudia.
Sounds incredibly interesting. Great review and add me in too…would love to read it. How are you? It’s been a while since I have been by here. Hope you are well my friend.
I knew/know nothing of her background and would love to read this book.
Claudia, I also have a Madeleine Albright book that I recommend: Read My Pins. She is pin collector and wearer. It recounts the stories of the occasions and meetings of what pin she wore and the significance it occasionally implied during tenuous political negotiations. A very interesting read for any vintage pin collector.
Thank you for your review of this book. I know I would enjoy reading it–and also the one Kim, above, speaks about!
If you liked reading Prague Winter you’re sure to like a book/memoir of a young Czechoslovakian’s life during World War II and the Cold War that was recently endorsed by Madeleine Albright: Border Crossings: Coming of Age in the Czech Resistance by Charles Novacek. Dr. Albright’s endorsement states: “Border Crossings is the well-told and dramatic story of a young man whose comfortable life is abruptly transformed by the savagery of World War II. Forced to rely on primal instincts and his familiarity with the rugged highlands of Moravia, Charles Novacek casts his lot first with the anti-Hitler Underground and then with the resistance to the Nazis’ Communist successors. “My recollections pain me,” he writes, “still, they have made me who I am.” Novacek’s experience as a Hungarian-speaking Czecho-Slovak patriot demonstrates the folly of petty nationalism and the resilience of human decency and love.” Charles was my husband.
I just love your blog because of its diversity. You write about so many interesting topics. I would never have thought to read her book, but now I know I have to! ; )
I’d heard about this book and have it bookmarked on my amazon wish list. Thanks for the review – I’ll definitely get it now.
I would love to win this book. I certainly crave more knowledge of this time in history. Interesting note…I grew up in the small Oklahoma town of Prague. My great grandparents came to Oklahoma from Prague Czechoslvokia and were founding fathers of Prague Ok. My mother and grandparents never spoke much about why they left and came to America. Sounds like a wonderful book~~
I would love to have this book. I knew nothing about her background. Thank you for the review. It sounds like a wonderful book.
Love the sound of this memoir Claudia, had no idea of her Czech background …..adding to my list and hope I get to read it one way or the other, thanks for the chance.
Mary X
Sec’y Albright is someone I’ve always admired, Claudia, and your review of her book only confirms my esteem for her. We have been so lucky to have such strong women in the pivotal role of our emissary throughout the world. And I’m sure her personal experiences made her more empathic and wise in her dealings with the people she met. Thank you for bringing this book to my attention. I truly appreciate it!
Definitely would love this book!! My husband was born in Czechoslvokia in 1949 and fled communist rule in 1969!
He proudly served 12 years in our military and still works for our government! My mother-in-law still lives in Prague and has told me what it was like during this time frame of before and after the communists invaded her homeland. Claudia, I never comment on blogs but wanted to say how much I love reading your blog….discovered via Brenda’s Cozy Little House….your blog and Brenda’s are the two I read faithfully….and even if I don’t win the book, will still plan to go out and purchase to surprise the hubby and mother-in-law!!
I have long admired Madeleine Albright and would love to read her book. Claudia I enjoy your book reviews very much~! hugs, Linda
The first time I heard Ms. Albright speak I was amazed. Smart, truthful and sometimes very funny. I would enjoy a copy of this book to learn more about this amazing woman’s life. Thanks for this wonderful give away and your book reviews.
Claudia, Ok here I am on the correct post! Now I hope I will be considered in the book give away.(I’m learning slow but sure) -Judy A-
This is one I will really enjoy. I’ll add it to my list right now so I don’t forget.
I heard an interview with her on NPR about this book and I thought it sounded so interesting. I would love to readi it!
Claudia – Thanks for featuring this book. I was unaware that Madeleine Albright had a new release. I have always admired her and look forward to learning more about her life. I’ve placed this one in my library queue. Thanks for all of your book reviews. Jill
I might be too late, but why not try! I would be very interested in reading this. I am a first-generation American, and my parents are from Latvia and Germany.
I love that quote you included … it is so very true! This sounds like a book that I shouldn’t miss out on. Onto the TBR list it goes!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
Great review! This book is going on my reading list, I have been reading quite a few books based on ww2 lately, mainly due to them being on my 7th graders reading lists for school and have become quite fascinated by the things we didn’t learn in school! I just finished the zoo keepers wife which is set in wartime Warsaw.