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gillybourne's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
julieverive's review against another edition
5.0
This was marvelous. It is a detailed chronicle of the Hungarians who fought back and those who fled to Austria and the awful things the Soviets did to those who opposed them. The story hits quite hard after hearing stories from my grandparents throughout my childhood, who escaped the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 - my grandfather deserted the Hungarian army in order to flee into Yugoslavia with his then-girlfriend, my grandmother. My grandparents were 22 and 18 when they fled together, and were married in a Yugoslavian refugee camp. It was extremely compelling to read the stories of the young people fighting back and then leaving Hungary and to know it was written in 1957 as the events were occurring is deeply impactful.
craftygoat's review against another edition
3.0
A snapshot of a particular moment in history. Since Michener wrote this shortly after the events he documents, he assumes the reader has some knowledge of what happened, how the press covered it, and other current events of the time. I was completely unfamiliar with most of this, and as such, I'd say this book isn't exactly a timeless piece. And while I am grateful for the insight, I found myself suspicious of the open editorializing; does some of it border on propaganda? Still, I had just read a novel that touched on the personal consequences that occurred based on mere suspicions during the U.S.'s Red Scare. And here so many Hungarians endured torture on the basis of suspicions. A frightening time, and a courageous people!
glennrj's review against another edition
3.0
Michener’s knack for great storytelling is on full display here. Writing in the immediate aftermath of the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution against Soviet occupation, he gives a vivid reminder that the Russian capacity for brutality is hardly a new thing, nor is the will to resist it. And that although this revolution is now mostly a footnote in history, it did probably stop the further spread of Communism in Europe in its tracks. Italy and France were in doubt until this happened. And it would take another 35 years but the spirit of 56 would eventually prevail.
But there are some things that keep this from getting a higher rating from me. One glaring example is his composite portrait of sadistic officers in the Hungarian secret police, the AVO, as in part homosexual “perverts” (his word). And although the Soviets obviously cruelly overreacted in 1956, there is scant mention of the Hungarians having allied with Germany in war that had ended just 10 years before and had killed over 20 million Soviets. They had some reason to be paranoid. He also suggests that China and North Korea surely would have their own anti communist revolutions in the near future. Oops. And it is hard not to think about the Vietnam War in the 60s as being driven in part by memories of not having done enough to help the Hungarians.
But there are some things that keep this from getting a higher rating from me. One glaring example is his composite portrait of sadistic officers in the Hungarian secret police, the AVO, as in part homosexual “perverts” (his word). And although the Soviets obviously cruelly overreacted in 1956, there is scant mention of the Hungarians having allied with Germany in war that had ended just 10 years before and had killed over 20 million Soviets. They had some reason to be paranoid. He also suggests that China and North Korea surely would have their own anti communist revolutions in the near future. Oops. And it is hard not to think about the Vietnam War in the 60s as being driven in part by memories of not having done enough to help the Hungarians.
nelda's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
texreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
In the 1950s, Michener volunteered to help refugees cross the Bridge at Andau into Austria escaping communism and the Soviet regime, which was putting down a temporarily successful revolt in Budapest, Hungary. Horrified by what he saw and heard, he investigated in depth what brought about the revolt and its aftermath. This is a profound indictment of communism. Even though written in the 1950s, and being dated, it reverberates in the news from Ukraine and Putin‘s Soviet-era desire to rob the freedom from his neighbors. An excellent book. I learned vasts amounts about Hungary and its history. I‘m so glad I found and read this book. But skip the audio. It is monotonous to the point of robotic.
tsarromanov's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sarahtokar's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Michener wrote this account of the 1956 Hungarian uprising right after it happened, so it lacks historical perspective. He was definitely immersed in Cold War ideology at the time .. although he does criticize the US for not acting more decisively, especially when it came to helping refugees. The accounts of Soviet and AVO prisons, troops, and terror tactics are well researched. But the 1950s style of writing can’t help but make it sound like propaganda. Altogether an informative and compassionate coverage of events, which I will follow up on with a more modern book.
booksaremysuperpower's review against another edition
3.0
This is a timely read. If you want to better understand the war in Ukraine and why they are fighting with such grit and determination to maintain independence, The Bridge at Andau is a haunting parallel cautionary tale.
I expected a more fictional account of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, but the book is more of an investigative reporting by the author. He does create composite characters and gives the impression and narrative arc of a story happening in real time, but don't expect depth or nuance to the people portrayed. Michener acknowledges this in his opening prologue that he could have gone the route of creating actual characters with backstory, etc.
There's a lot of detail in here, some chapters are perhaps easier to follow than others because there is no main character narrative to hold onto. The chapter on the AVO Man is terrifying and the most gripping. That we humans continue to be awful to each other is astounding. You can't make up the torture prisoners went through, it defies the imagination. Even the darkest and twisted mind had to dig deep to come up with some of these torture methods.
Michener's best writing in the book comes from his explanations and theories as to why and how Communism can take root in a country and progress to a level of terror and oppression. I suppose I always thought I knew, or at least had the bare bones knowledge about what Communism stood for, but his reasonings are very sound and insightful.
I was glad I was introduced to this by my dad; it should be on more people's reading lists.
I expected a more fictional account of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, but the book is more of an investigative reporting by the author. He does create composite characters and gives the impression and narrative arc of a story happening in real time, but don't expect depth or nuance to the people portrayed. Michener acknowledges this in his opening prologue that he could have gone the route of creating actual characters with backstory, etc.
There's a lot of detail in here, some chapters are perhaps easier to follow than others because there is no main character narrative to hold onto. The chapter on the AVO Man is terrifying and the most gripping. That we humans continue to be awful to each other is astounding. You can't make up the torture prisoners went through, it defies the imagination. Even the darkest and twisted mind had to dig deep to come up with some of these torture methods.
Michener's best writing in the book comes from his explanations and theories as to why and how Communism can take root in a country and progress to a level of terror and oppression. I suppose I always thought I knew, or at least had the bare bones knowledge about what Communism stood for, but his reasonings are very sound and insightful.
I was glad I was introduced to this by my dad; it should be on more people's reading lists.
askmashka's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced