Truth can be stranger than fiction and also more exciting. A Cold War author, especially one whose work was well reviewed, may have written a book that will hold you enthralled in a way you never expected from a historical book. Although the stand-off between the Soviet Union and the United States was roughly from 1947 to 1989, the scope of its literature is greater. Many books deal with events leading up to this ideological struggle or immediately after the collapse of the USSR.
The grip of tyranny imposed on Eastern Europe was called the Iron Curtain by the West. The countries of the Soviet bloc were virtually isolated from the rest of the world. Their news was structured by the state, their lives rigidly controlled, their economy socialized, and their movements curtailed. People who tried to resist were imprisoned or killed, and failed escape attempts had terrible consequences.
Although the regime tried to hide conditions behind the Curtain and prevent contact with the outside world, courageous informers smuggled information out and organizations like Radio Free Europe sent information in. Chilling stories emerged of the secret police, the KGB, and their brutal suppression of dissent. Defying the party line could result in exile to Siberia, one of the most inhospitable places on earth.
The lofty ideals of ending class distinctions and capitalistic exploitation of the worker were soon shown to be mere propaganda. An elite class did emerge, made up of party members. They were allowed higher education, shopped at well-stocked stores, and vacationed at luxury resorts on the Black Sea. The average citizen worked as slave labor on communal farms or in state-owned factories, were herded into high-rise apartments, and stood in long queues to get the bare necessities of existence.
The literature might be grim, but it's fascinating. Inspirational stories abound: successful escapes to freedom, the survival of human kindness under oppression, secret worship, and Western efforts to halt the spread of oppression. Government informers who helped to keep the populace under control became symbolic of the intrusion of the state into every facet of life.
'Cold' refers to the lack of open warfare between the two superpowers, but there was confrontation. The US helped Greece resist a communist takeover, while Russia succeeded in spreading its doctrine to China. Korea and Viet Nam were regional wars that taxed both countries. Although the nuclear power of each superpower restrained the other, lines were drawn over the Suez Canal and conflict almost erupted when Russia tried to install missiles in Cuba.
There are great novels, as well. James Bond made the world of espionage glamorous and gave us many memorable villains, not to mention lovely female allies or opponents. Tales of daring escapes, defections, and resistance to tyranny make great reading while they make history and Eastern European culture come alive.
It's a good time to search out a Cold War author who earned critical acclaim at the time of publication. Read the stories of people who watched or experienced the struggle between tyranny and democracy. Modern accounts that might be revisionist history can easily be balanced against period literature; make your own evaluation.
The grip of tyranny imposed on Eastern Europe was called the Iron Curtain by the West. The countries of the Soviet bloc were virtually isolated from the rest of the world. Their news was structured by the state, their lives rigidly controlled, their economy socialized, and their movements curtailed. People who tried to resist were imprisoned or killed, and failed escape attempts had terrible consequences.
Although the regime tried to hide conditions behind the Curtain and prevent contact with the outside world, courageous informers smuggled information out and organizations like Radio Free Europe sent information in. Chilling stories emerged of the secret police, the KGB, and their brutal suppression of dissent. Defying the party line could result in exile to Siberia, one of the most inhospitable places on earth.
The lofty ideals of ending class distinctions and capitalistic exploitation of the worker were soon shown to be mere propaganda. An elite class did emerge, made up of party members. They were allowed higher education, shopped at well-stocked stores, and vacationed at luxury resorts on the Black Sea. The average citizen worked as slave labor on communal farms or in state-owned factories, were herded into high-rise apartments, and stood in long queues to get the bare necessities of existence.
The literature might be grim, but it's fascinating. Inspirational stories abound: successful escapes to freedom, the survival of human kindness under oppression, secret worship, and Western efforts to halt the spread of oppression. Government informers who helped to keep the populace under control became symbolic of the intrusion of the state into every facet of life.
'Cold' refers to the lack of open warfare between the two superpowers, but there was confrontation. The US helped Greece resist a communist takeover, while Russia succeeded in spreading its doctrine to China. Korea and Viet Nam were regional wars that taxed both countries. Although the nuclear power of each superpower restrained the other, lines were drawn over the Suez Canal and conflict almost erupted when Russia tried to install missiles in Cuba.
There are great novels, as well. James Bond made the world of espionage glamorous and gave us many memorable villains, not to mention lovely female allies or opponents. Tales of daring escapes, defections, and resistance to tyranny make great reading while they make history and Eastern European culture come alive.
It's a good time to search out a Cold War author who earned critical acclaim at the time of publication. Read the stories of people who watched or experienced the struggle between tyranny and democracy. Modern accounts that might be revisionist history can easily be balanced against period literature; make your own evaluation.
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