Many people vividly remember at least one book written by a Cold War author. Significant events, causes and effects of this period of history, biographies of major players, and a wealth of fiction based on espionage, nuclear proliferation, and true-life efforts to escape to freedom made engrossing reading. From about 1947 to 1989, two huge superpowers held each other at bay because they both had the capability to destroy the world. What a scenario!
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.
Fiction heightened the romantic aspects of this period. James Bond novels gave the mysterious world of espionage glamour, fantastic villains, beautiful women, and intricate gadgets. The Space Race needed no embellishment, but it gave new scope to science fiction. The eternal themes of young love, loyalty to country and family, faith, and resistance to tyranny continued.
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.
Fiction heightened the romantic aspects of this period. James Bond novels gave the mysterious world of espionage glamour, fantastic villains, beautiful women, and intricate gadgets. The Space Race needed no embellishment, but it gave new scope to science fiction. The eternal themes of young love, loyalty to country and family, faith, and resistance to tyranny continued.
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.
About the Author:
Read more about History Is Exciting When Told By A Cold War Author visiting our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment