The Life of Edvard Bene%s 1884-1948: Czechoslovakia in Peace and War [Hardcover]

Zbyn%ek Zeman (Author), Antonï¿1/2n Klimek (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019820583X | ISBN-13: 978-0198205838 | Publication Date: October 9, 1997

This is the first biography of Edvard Benes, a key figure in the history of Czechoslovakia in the first three decades of its existence. The authors paint a colorful picture of his career, from helping Thomas Masaryk to found the state during the First World War through his tumultuous presidency during the Second World War to his death in the year Czechoslovakia became a Soviet satellite state.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`He has used entirely new or previously little-known documentary sources and let them speak for themselves. When Zeman allows his judgement to intrude it is almost always measured, sound and convincing. this is a readable, intelligent and hugely informative biography of an important if highly unattractive personality.' Richard Crampton, Central Europe Review 22/11/99

About the Author

Zbynek Zeman is at University of Oxford. Antonin Klimek is at Institute of History of the Czech Army, Prague.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019820583X
• ISBN-13: 978-0198205838
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,451,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Benes's tragic life, December 14, 2010

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This review is from: The Life of Edvard Bene%s 1884-1948: Czechoslovakia in Peace and War (Hardcover)

Zeman's biography is the latest on Edvard Benes, making use of a private and official correspondence that was locked up until 1989. This is an academic work, though it somewhat surprisingly has notes but not a bibliography. It is dispassionate in tone. It is prepared to take a critical look at Benes himself, his occasional conceit and overconfidence. And it takes a hard look at certain events typically treated more patriotically in Czech histories, such as the change of government and mobilisation that preceded Munich. At the same time, because Benes was so intimately involved in the country's politics in its first decades, Zeman's book can serve as a history of Czechoslovakia for 1918-1948 (a work that has yet to be produced, in the English language). Benes's life was both heroic and tragic. He was one of Czechoslovakia's founders alongside Masaryk, in 1918, and he presided over both Munich (Masaryk was dead, by then), and the 1948 communist coup. It is hard to fault Benes for Munich, as there was not much he could do, but his responsibility for 1948 was much heavier. But Zeman's book is an opportunity to judge for yourself.