Lech Walesa: The Road to Democracy (Great Lives) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "AS DARKNESS BEGAN to fall on July 31, 1980, bringing the long summer evening to an end, a 36-year-old man named Lech Walesa returned to..." (more)
Key Phrases: shipyard strike, strike committee, Soviet Union, Lech Walesa, Lenin Shipyard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Profiles the remarkable man who began as a shipyard electrician and who became the leader of Poland's Solidarity trade union movement, and who eventually was elected leader of the country.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (March 17, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449906256
• ISBN-13: 978-0449906255
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,262,683 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Voice, June 5, 2008

By	BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is an excellent biography of Lech Walesa, a truly good man who literally reset the world on a whole new axis. The Beatles' 1968 classic "Revolution" could easily be the soundtrack to this book. "We all want to change the world..." very a propos indeed!

A humble shipyard worker, Walesa organized unions on the shipyards and in the mills and factories. He took those reforms steps farther by banging on the drum for social and political reforms in Poland.

Throughout the 1980s, Walesa and a group of people known as the Solidarity Workers were gaining momentum in Poland as the Voices of Change. They met privately in church basements and in people's homes, all the time discussing plans for revamping the communist regime in Poland.

Their efforts paid off. People in Western countries such as England, France, Germany and even the United States smuggled computers into Poland so that the Solidarity Party would have greater access to their intended, global public. Their efforts were not without major challenges and Lech Walesa served a year in jail for his outspoken plea for sociopolitical reforms.

Fortunately for all, his voice carried far and wide. His efforts with the Solidarty Party paid dividends and on June 4, 1989 Poland had its first free election for the first time since WWII. Lech Walesa had literally helped change the face of the world and to tear holes in the Iron Curtain.

June 4, 1989 was Triple Shot Sunday. Ayahtollah Khomeini died; the massacre in China took place and on a happy note the Solidary Candidates won. Tom Brokaw of NBC News was on hand to cover the events in Poland!

Lech Walesa said that his late father Boleslaw Walesa had hoped his children would be able to cast free votes in Poland. Thanks to the hard work of the Solidarity Party, his dream has been realized by Lech Walesa, whose 4 sons and 4 daughters will see that dream of being able to vote in free elections.

Througout 1989, other Eastern European countries broke with the 1955 Warsaw Pact. Ironically, Poland was the first country to make that break. Social changes swept the world and Lech Walesa's voice was heard in the Western World when he came to New York the fall of 1989. He was given a Key to the City and then Mayor Dinkins had him chauffered in the Mayor's car throughout Manhattan. Walesa spoke before the Senate and the House. He was a man who not only helped tear down the Iron Curtain, but to build solid(arity) bridges to the Eastern World.

I think we should raise our glasses to Lech Walesa and the Soldiarity Reformers who made this all possible.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRUE HERO and Role MODEL for RIGHTS, August 3, 2007

By	Academic - See all my reviews

One of the greatest heroes of all time, who deserves more attention. What he accomplished is incredible, and against all odds; taking down communism/playing a major role in its takedown(along with Pope John Paul II). Every school should have this book. It is well written, and truly demonstrates how dreams can become reality, with determination and lots of "courage." Lech Walesa is a true hero.