"Revolution 1989 "is the first in-depth, authoritative account of a few months that changed the world.
At the start of 1989, six European nations were Soviet vassal states. By year's end, they had all declared national independence and embarked on the road to democracy. How did it happen so quickly? Victor Sebestyen, who was on the scene as a reporter, draws on his firsthand knowledge of the events, on scores of interviews with witnesses and participants, and on newly uncovered archival material. He tells the story through the eyes of ordinary men and women as well as through the strategic moves of world leaders. He shows how the KGB helped bring down former allies; how the United States tried to slow the process; and why the collapse of the Iron Curtain was the catalyst for the fall of the entire Soviet empire.

Reviews

Journalist Sebestyen (Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution) writes a fast-paced, accessible book about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Distinct from other books on the topic, Sebestyen takes the reader back to the late 1970s with the rise of solidarity in Poland and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which he proposes set the stage for 1989. As many authors note, but Sebestyen clearly acknowledges, the Soviets and the Eastern bloc never intended to surrender their system, but their actions allowed their system to fail. Both interested general readers and students will appreciate this book because it is well researched and features abundant ground-level details that are often absent from scholarly analysis of the period.-Beth Johns, Saginaw Valley State Univ., University Center, MI Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

"A must-have accounting. . . . Sebestyen's brilliantly written narrative unfolds in brief, gripping episodes." --"Newsweek "

"Numerous books have [attempted] to synthesize the compelling story of the fall of communism, but "Revolution 1989" comes closest to being the essential volume. Sebestyen's elegant narrative lays out in crisp episodes what was happening . . . throughout the tumultuous 1980s." --"The Daily Beast"

"Full of sharp snapshots and crisp narrative . . . vivid personal glimpses and striking details." --"The New York Review of Books"

"Vivid, panoramic. . . . The writing is taut, the scene-setting dramatic, giving the book an almost cinematic feel." --"The Sunday Times "(London)

"A digestible and colourful history of that miraculous year." --"The Economist"
" "
"It's a complex story spanning many countries, but this exciting yet deeply researched work brings it impressively to life. . . . Compelling." --"The Observer"

"Sebestyen's strength is his sharp focus and racy prose. . . . Here is history written like a Greek tragedy." --"The Times" (London)

"A compelling and illuminating account of a great drama in the history of our times which showed once again that ordinary men and women really can change the world." --"The Mail on Sunday"

"A rollicking mix of high drama and sordid reality . . . spiced with telling quotations." --"The Independent"
" "
"A thrilling read. . . . Sebestyen is good at sketching the leading players but he also succinctly conveys what life was like for ordinary citizens." --"Daily Express"

"Sebestyen brilliantly pulls together the events that led to the fall of the Soviet empire." --"The Spectator"
" "
"Superbly written and impressively documented." --"Times Literary Supplement"