Customer Reviews

From Stalinism to Pluralism: A Documentary History of Eastern Europe since 1945

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A typical story: this was one of the required books for a history course on the collapse of the USSR and the end of Communism in Eastern Europe. I thought, O gosh, another boring and expensive tome to lug to sections and lectures. Wrong! This is the book that you're glad to have learned about and glad to own and excited to read! (Well, if you are a history undergrad like me!)

So, what's so special? It is a collection of primary source documents from virtually every East Bloc country, dealing with everything from the COMINTERN to dissidents, anti-nuclear activists to economists, pro-marxian(non-Lennist) theories to historic speeches and manifestos from virtually every significant historically personality. It's a mix, a grab bag, a delightful kaleidescope examining every possible aspect you could want to learn about. Of course, it's general, not specific, and panoramic, not complete. But it's complete enough for an undergraduate survey-type course. It offers up quotes, evidence, and stats vital for any sort of paper one could need to write.

It is highly readable, though not all entries are equally exciting. There are also help introductions to the sources which contextualize and frame them, reminding one of complex intersecting national timelines of the individual socialist people's republics.

Again, fascinating and readable! A book only a college student studying the cold war could love! But you will love it! If you're choosing between taking this out of a library or buying your own copy, buy your own! It is a great reference!