A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival (Paperback)

by Stanislav J. Kirschbaum (Author)
Key Phrases: politickej literatury, slovenskych dejinach, povstanie roku, Great Moravia, Slovak Republic, Slovak People's Party (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
When Czechoslovakia split into two separate nations in 1993, the world shrugged. Compared with the reunification of Germany and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the creation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic was a minor political development. However, for Slovaks, their independence came after centuries of dominance by other nations. Kirschbaum (political science, York Univ.) has given the Western world the first popular history of Slovakia. Up until now, readers-and libraries-have had to make do with Jozef Lettrich's History of Modern Slovakia (Praeger, 1955) or Kirschbaum's own hard-to-find Slovak Politics: Essays on Slovak History (Slovak Inst. of Cleveland, 1983). Kirschbaum traces the development of Slovak culture from the Great Moravian Empire of the eighth century through the Middle Ages and Hapsburg rule. A Slovakian national identity finally emerged in the 1700s, and Kirschbaum skillfully chronicles the political fortunes of the 19th and 20th centuries. The impact of the world wars and Communist rule is balanced by the exhilaration of the democratic revolution in 1989 and the Slovaks' subsequent autonomy. This is a rich historical work, diligently researched (there are over 600 footnotes) and compellingly written. An important contribution to the literature on Eastern and Central Europe, it is highly recommended for academic or large public libraries.
Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, Pa.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Kirschbaum has given the Western world the first popular history of Slovakia...This is a rich historical work, diligently researched and compellingly written. An important contribution to the literature on Eastern and Central Europe...." - Library Journal

"A History of Slovakia is a masterpiece of historical narrative with a clear-stated and well-structured argument. It is free from ideological or political bias, and able to fill a painful gap in the modern English-speaking historiography."
--Emilia Hrabovec, University of Vienna

"A History of Slovakia is the most accessible English source of comprehensive information on Slovakia's past. It is stimulating and well suited for readers interested in this fascinating country and for university courses."
-- Martin Votruba, Director, Slovak Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Second Edition edition (May 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403969299
• ISBN-13: 978-1403969293
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,261 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent in parts, but one-sided on critical issues, October 2, 1999

By	Daniel J. Matyola (Somerville, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival (Paperback)

I am a Slovak-American and a Rusyn-American. As such, I have stongly mixed feelings about this book.

It is the only currently available attempt to chronicle the complete history of the Slovak people. In many parts, it is superb. It exudes a sense of pride for a culture that has often been ignored or undervalued, even by the Slovaks themselves and their children and grandchildren.

This made it even harder for me to accept the anti-Czech bias of this book and its efforts to justify and lionize Tiso, who was the pro-Nazi dictator of Slovakia during World War II.

Certainly, the Czechs have looked down on their "little brothers" in Slovakia from time to time. Had the Slovaks not joined with the Czechs after WWI to form Czechoslovakia, however, they would undoubted have remained as part of Hungary, and their culture might have disappeared entirely. Kirschbaum considers Czechoslovakia as a Czech attempt to dominate the Slovaks, and the goal of a completely independent Slovakia as the only acceptable outcome of Slovak history. It is still far from clear that Slovakia is better off on its own, rather than as part of a democratic Czechoslovakia.

Most troubling of all for me was Kirschbaum's defense of Father Josef Tiso, who took power in Slovakia with Hitler's blessing after Germany created the "Protectorate" of Bohemia and Moravia. Under Tiso, Slovakia colaborated with the Nazis to keep the appearance of being an independent state. This was justified, according to the author, because it meant that the Catholic Slovak majority could have control of their own country for the first time in history. While he admits that Tiso helped ship Slovakia's Jews off to the concentration camps, Kirschbaum claims he did so more slowly than the Nazis desired. Tiso also repressed the country's other minorities, including Hungarians, Gypsies, Poles, Rusyns and non-Catholics. Germans were treated well, of course, so as not to displease the Nazis. Meanwhile, the Czechs were stiking back at the Nazis, and enduring the devastation of the town of Lidice.

Slovakia's second chance at an independent nation, in 1993, also started off badly, although democracy seems to have grown stronger in the past year or so. It is still too early to tell whether Slovakia can survive as an independent economic entity, and whether it can create a tolerant society. The book's attitudes of "Czechs bad, Slovaks good," and "complete independence is worth any price" taint an otherwise well told and researched work.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An extensive, if biased, history of the Slovak nation, November 18, 1997

By	"aclboston" (Roslindale, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival (Hardcover)

One has to hand it to Stanislav Kirschbaum; He has successfully written the first all-encompassing history of Slovakia in the post- communist era, no small task when Slovak history is as complex and multi-faceted as it is. The scope of his research and factual grounding is impressive, and his writing stlye is entertaining enough, for a history text. However, it is very easy to tell that Mr. Kirschbaum has an extremely biased pro-Slovak view of the nations history, especially as regards Slovakia's involvement in World War II and the Holocaust. Astute readers will pick up references to a Jozef Kirschbaum who was, for a short time during the war, a government official in Slovakia; This Jozef Kirschbaum is presumably a close relative of the author's, due to the fact that the author has edited a book in memory of Jozef Kirschbaum. Still, all in all, an indispensable book for students of Slovak history.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A History of Slovak Nationalism, not the Slovak Nation, April 14, 2003

By	Steven Davis (Rowlett, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival (Paperback)

This is not a comprehensive history of the land and peoples of Slovakia. It is principally the story of the idea and eventual reality of an independent Slovak state. The author does discuss historical and military events, social and political issues, economic conditions, and cultural developments, but chiefly within the context of the nationalist movement. It is a well-written and interesting story, but lacks the balance and breadth to live up to the title "A History of Slovakia." This is especially true of the 19th and 20th Centuries where Kirschbaum's focus on the nationalist movement becomes exclusive.