The book examines the history of Czechoslovakia in the seventy years since its founding by T.G.Masaryk. It analyses the profound changes which took place during the First Republic, the Nazi occupation, postwar liberation and communist rule, including both the Stalinist years, the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent period of normalization to 1988.

Zusammenfassung
It analyses the profound changes which took place during the First Republic, the Nazi occupation, postwar liberation and communist rule, including both the Stalinist years, the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent period of normalization to 1988.

Inhalt
PART 1 TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF CZECHOSLOVAK LEADERSHIP - Lions or Foxes: Heroes or Lackeys; H.G.Skilling - PART 2 INDEPENDENCE ACHIEVED - T.G.Masaryk: The Problem of a Small; G.J.Kovtun - On the Emergence of Czechoslovakia; J.Opat - PART 3 CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN EUROPE - Benes between East and West; W.Ullmann - PART 4 THE NATIONALITIES - Czechs and Slovaks; E.Bos k - Castles on the Landscape: Czechs and Germans; R.M.Smelser - Magyars and Carpatho-Rusyns; P.R.Magocsi - PART 5 POLITICAL CULTURE AND ECONOMIC CHANGE - Political Culture: Continuity and Discontinuity; F.M.Barnard - From Capitalism to Socialism; R.Selucky - PART 6 LITERATURE: FREE, OFFICIAL AND INDEPENDENT - Traditions of Czech Literature: Curses and Blessings; I.H jek - Slovak Literature: Loyal, Dissident and Emigre; P.Petro - A Neglected Generation; V.Havel - Appendices - Index