Book Review – To the Castle and Back
To the Castle and Back is Vaclav Havel’s semi-autobiographical work originally published in Czech in 2006 with the title “Please be Brief” and translated to English along with the new title “To the Castle and Back” by Paul Wilson in 2007.
Vaclav Havel served three Presidential terms becoming the last President of Czechoslovakia and following the Velvet Divorce, the first President of the Czech Republic (2 terms).
When I call the book “semi” autobiographical it’s because although Vaclav Havel writes about himself, the book covers nothing of his early life. Instead it cleverly uses historical diary records during the Presidency, modern-day reflections and answers to a list of journalistic questions to explore both the transition from Communism to Democracy plus it also touches on a period in 2005 as he attempts to transition back to a “normal” life hence the title of the book.
The Questions
Part of the book are questions from Czech journalist Karel Hvizdala. Back in 1986 Karel Hvizdala had sent, to the then “dissident” Vaclav Havel, some questions to explore his life, hopes and ongoing struggle against communist rule to commemorate his 50th birthday. To the Castle and Back sees that same journalist again sending a list of questions to the now former President Vaclav Havel for publication on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The answers to these questions shed light on the nature of taking over government, some specific instances of the period and how Havel addresses those challenges.
The Diary
Vaclav Havel kept copious notes during the Presidency although the book only largely deals with the period 1996-97 it gives a better understanding of the role of President and how 6 years after taking over the role, Havel was in many ways happy with his influence but frustrated about the petty political bickering by people who had not suffered under communist rule. It’s an eye-opener into the day-to-day thoughts and actions of a person who never set out to be President. On one page he talks about giving more money to the lady who irons his shirts, on the next it’s reconstituting the Czech Senate. Another page he’s talking about asking somebody to refuel his lighter and then it’s joining NATO and preparing for full membership of the European Union. Another page deals with the Castle having it’s own cutlery and then you are looking at the arguments about the voting system to be used in the 1992 elections.
The Present
The Present largely deals with events in 2005 when on a trip to the USA Havel decides to use spare time both to answer the questions and to generally describe his experiences with the people he meets.
To the Castle and Back Pros and Cons
A very strong Pro is that it’s a full and honest account by a man who know how to explain himself. Another Pro is that the focus of the journalistic questions really draws out what was happening at the time and the characters involved. Of course, this can also be treated as a Con because it’s littered with names which you will not know. The biggest Con for me is the way the book bounces back and forth through time in that it’s like reading a personal diary mixed in with slightly more expanded answers (and Havel recognises this in the preface but makes no apology for that style). It’s not a real page-turner and it’s not broken into chapters so you read what you want and go back to it later.
Who is the Book Aimed At?
If you are aware of the characters of the period then you’d treat it as a historical snapshot, a behind the scenes look at what was happening in the meetings. If you don’t know the characters then it’s a fascinating look at a political blank page. Basically how a country transitions from a Totalitarian regime to a Democracy without conflict but with all the issues, reasoning and compromises that go along with that. Havel died in 2011.
Hardback: ISBN 978 1 84627 137 3
Trade Paperback: ISBN 978 1 84627 145 8
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