Václav Havel for Our Time

Traces the enduring relevance of Václav Havel’s visionary thought and writings.Václav Havel (1936–2011), the long-imprisoned dissident, playwright and author who became the celebrated Czech president, has been commended for many accomplishments . But he remains unrecognised for the most enduring: his prophetic vision, beautifully articulated and vitally needed today. It is a vision of values at work and of sheer intelligence and goodwill, anchored in a restated humanism and awareness of transcendent authority.Drawing on his writings and speeches, Roger Lipsey interprets Havel’s wisdom for new generations. Havel’s interests were varied: he addressed politics, leadership, the role of the individual, civil society, conscience and much more. He contributed self-sacrificingly to the Eastern European transition from communism to democracy, considering the issues facing his region and the world with a unique blend of humanity, good sense and fearlessness. But above all, as he identified in a 1997 talk in Kyiv, he believed that ‘the crucial task of our time [is] the quest for a new global sense of responsibility’. Much of his thought returned to this necessity.Written both for familiar readers and those new to his work, this is a rich assessment of the life and ideas of Václav Havel, the conscience and mirror of the twentieth century.Uncovers the unrecognised and beautifully articulated wisdom of Havel and how it can benefit new generationsAuthor draws on his writings and speeches to provide a rich account of the life and ideas of the former Czech presidentWritten for both well-versed readers and those new to Havel's work