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The Struggle and the Triumph: An Autobiography
by
Lech Wałęsa
From the time he founded Solidarity in 1980 to the historic moment in December 1990 when he took the oath of office as the first freely elected president of Poland in half a century, Lech Walesa has had all eyes upon him. He became the symbol of freedom and hope not only for Poland but for all the countries in the former Eastern Bloc. Walesa's dreams for his own beleaguere
...more
Paperback
,
330 pages
Published
January 19th 1994
by Arcade Publishing
(first published 1987)
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Community Reviews
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This autobiography covers the period between Walesa's release from incarceration to his election as president of Poland. Walesa comes across as jovial and blustering, with a humble love for his church and a sharp political caginess for the rest of the world. The Walesa portrayed here loves his own reputation and dignity, but is also deeply committed to nonviolence and a peaceful change in power, and abandoned legitimate resentments for the sake of pluralism. I did not expect to like a politician
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Jul 20, 2008
Jacob
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Poles!
Recommended to Jacob by:
found it on my own
Shelves:
politics-geopolitics
,
history
This is such a good book. Walesa is surprisingly clear and, though he's not Shakespeare, talks about his life in a very poignant and fascinating manner. It is also an eye-opener of sorts, in that one never hears much about any of these sort of revolutions or current world affairs here in the United States. The information is either very brief on the news or altogether absent. Also, being of Polish descent myself, reading this book was a great way to learn contemporary Polish history and learn a
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Oct 21, 2014
Czarny Pies
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
The time to buy this book is passed. Walesa is now financially secure.
Shelves:
polish-lit
Jailbirds don't draw a salary so Walesa may have been motivated by the need to make money for his family when he wrote this.
In all likelihood better books will appear in the future on Walesa. If you bought the book take pride in the thought that i was for a good cause.
In all likelihood better books will appear in the future on Walesa. If you bought the book take pride in the thought that i was for a good cause.
Very interesting book, informative and whatnot. I was very surprised that, for being a sort-of non-violent activist saint, Walesa has quite a bit of of an ego!
It's all in the perspective of time now... but it's good to see thing from his point of view.
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Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician and a former trade union and human rights activist. He co-founded Solidarity (Solidarność), the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland from 1990 to 1995.
Source: Wikipedia.com
More about Lech Wałęsa...
Source: Wikipedia.com
