Publication Date: February 19th
Publisher: Harper
Source: Publisher – Thank
you!
Rating: I really liked it!
Before Madeleine
Albright turned twelve, her life was shaken by the Nazi invasion of her native
Prague, the Battle of Britain, the near-total destruction of European Jewry,
the Allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the
Cold War. Drawing on her memory, her parents’ written reflections, interviews
with contemporaries, and newly available documents, Albright recounts a tale
that is by turns harrowing and inspiring. In Prague Winter, Albright reflects
on her discovery of her family’s Jewish heritage many decades after the war, on
her Czech homeland’s tangled history, and on the stark moral choices faced by
her parents and their generation. At once a deeply personal memoir and an
incisive work of history, Prague Winter serves as a guide to the future through
the lessons of the past—as seen through the eyes of one of the international
community’s most respected and fascinating figures.
The Skinny: An incredible memoir and riveting read
I majored in political
science in college, so I am quite familiar with Madeline Albright’s political
legacy. I have always admired her ability to influence policy and hold her own
in an institution that is saturated with masculinity. Reading PRAGUE WINTER was an illuminating experience. I learned
more about the woman behind the Secretary of State, and I was surprised to read
that she was affected by the Nazi invasion of Prague. It is curious that we
learn so much about a person’s profession but hardly take the time to learn
more about her personal life and experiences that often shape one’s career
choice.
Madeline Albright’s candor makes this memoir one of
the most fascinating that I have read.
PRAGUE WINTER is written in a way that invites readers into a life that has
been well-lived, if that makes sense. I felt as if I were sitting with Madeline
and drinking a cup of tea with her while she spoke about her time in a Swiss
boarding school and about her father’s role as an ambassador. Madeline’s story
is conveyed crisply and cleanly – I did not have to decipher facts from
fictionalized tales.
I highly recommend PRAGUE
WINTER for readers who are interested in politics, war, and policy. The history
lessons that are embedded within the text are detailed, and I greatly enjoyed
Madeline’s insightful comments. PRAGUE WINTER is thoughtful, thorough, and a
must-read.
Madeleine Albright served
as America’s sixty-fourth secretary of state from 1997 to 2001. Her
distinguished career also includes positions on Capitol Hill, on the National
Security Council, and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She is a
resident of Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
