Winner of the 2007 Marshall Shulman Prize The 1956 Hungarian revolution; and its suppression by the U.S.S.R.; was a key event in the cold war; demonstrating deep dissatisfaction with both the communist system and old-fashioned Soviet imperialism. But now; fifty years later; the simplicity of this David and Goliath story should be revisited; according to Charles Gati's new history of the revolt. Denying neither Hungarian heroism nor Soviet brutality; Failed Illusions nevertheless modifies our picture of what happened. Imre Nagy; a reform communist who headed the revolutionary government and turned into a genuine patriot; could not rise to the occasion by steering a realistic course between his people's demands and Soviet geopolitical and ideological interests. The United States was all talk; no action; while Radio Free Europe simultaneously backed the insurgents' unrealizable demands and opposed Nagy. In the end; the Soviet Union followed its imperial impulse instead of seeking a political solution to the crisis in the spirit of de-Stalinization. Failed Illusions is based on extensive archival research; including the CIA's operational files; and hundreds of interviews with participants in Budapest; Moscow; and Washington. Personal observations by the author; a young reporter in Budapest in 1956; bring the tragic story vividly to life.
#1897967 in Books 2014-11-25 2014-11-25Original language:SpanishPDF # 1 8.00 x .85 x 5.16l; .81 #File Name: 0804170576304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Un cuadro completo de una tragedia que pudo haberse evitado.--Salvador CasanovaBy CustomerDe la misma manera que en su libro anterior; El Mañana; Mirta Ojito pinta un cuadro completo de un hecho complejo y conmovedor. Su trabajo periodistico investgativo nos lleva de la mano para que veamos a todos los involucrados en una comunidad que vivio la tragedia de inmigrantes latinos en lo que se convirtio en un microcosmos de la sociedad norteamericana en estos tiempos pero que; sin embargo; tiene raices profundas y antiguas. Es un libro que tambien nos invita a meditar antes de hacer apresurados juicios.
