The Curtain Rises

Book excerpt: Much has been written about how the authoritarianism of the Communist era gave way to more open societies in the former Soviet bloc countries, yet little has been said about how individuals in these countries have been affected and how they contributed to the changes in their societies. How does the relationship between husband and wife change when planned economy gives way to financial incertitude? When all are free to speak their minds publicly, are children more likely to do so at home or at school? How do the elderly adjust to new laws and fewer pensions? This book describes, in their own words, the lives of everyday people in Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as they struggled under Soviet domination, as they endured the revolutions in their respective countries, and as they now adapt to a free world society. These individuals, struggling with philosophical, political, educational, cultural, and spiritual adjustments, are entrepreneurs, political activists, scientists, and teachers. They are assuming leadership roles in local politics and implementing reforms in the schools. The book includes photographs, maps, and short introductory national histories.