cover image Revolution in Eastern Europe: Understanding the Collapse of Communism in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and the Soviet Unio

Revolution in Eastern Europe: Understanding the Collapse of Communism in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and the Soviet Unio

Peter Cipkowski. John Wiley & Sons, $50 (184pp) ISBN 978-0-471-53967-4

The inclusive subheading tells just what's here: a country-by-country examination of the turbulence of 1989, looking back for understanding in each case at events from 1945 to December 1990. The author, a Polish historian now living in the U.S., clarifies his topic by interweaving issues pertinent to each country--the role of a leader, religious debate, ecological crises. He also methodically differentiates one revolution from another, analyzing why the Romanian revolt was violent and looking at its potential outcome. Probably finding a niche as a reference volume, the material is clearly laid out and supported by many photographs. Ages 12-up. (July)