• Prague Winter

  • A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948
  • By: Madeleine Albright
  • Narrated by: Madeleine Albright
  • Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (429 ratings)

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Prague Winter  By  cover art

Prague Winter

By: Madeleine Albright
Narrated by: Madeleine Albright
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Publisher's summary

Before Madeleine Albright turned twelve, her life was shaken by the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia - the country where she was born - the Battle of Britain, the near total destruction of European Jewry, the Allied victory in World War II, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War.

Albright's experiences, and those of her family, provide a lens through which to view the most tumultuous dozen years in modern history. Drawing on her memory, her parents' written reflections, interviews with contemporaries, and newly available documents, Albright recounts a tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring. Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind and, simultaneously, a journey with universal lessons that is intensely personal.

The book takes readers from the Bohemian capital's thousand-year-old castle to the bomb shelters of London, from the desolate prison ghetto of TerezÍn to the highest councils of European and American government. Albright reflects on her discovery of her family's Jewish heritage many decades after the war, on her Czech homeland's tangled history, and on the stark moral choices faced by her parents and their generation. Often relying on eyewitness descriptions, she tells the story of how millions of ordinary citizens were ripped from familiar surroundings and forced into new roles as exiled leaders and freedom fighters, resistance organizers and collaborators, victims and killers. These events of enormous complexity are nevertheless shaped by concepts familiar to any growing child: fear, trust, adaptation, the search for identity, the pressure to conform, the quest for independence, and the difference between right and wrong.

"No one who lived through the years of 1937 to 1948," Albright writes, "was a stranger to profound sadness. Millions of innocents did not survive, and their deaths must never be forgotten. Today we lack the power to reclaim lost lives, but we have a duty to learn all that we can about what happened and why." At once a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history, Prague Winter serves as a guide to the future through the lessons of the past - as seen through the eyes of one of the international community's most respected and fascinating figures.

©2012 Madeleine Albright (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

“A remarkable story of adventure and passion, tragedy and courage set against the backdrop of occupied Czechoslovakia and World War II. Albright provides fresh insights into the events that shaped her career and challenges us to think deeply about the moral dilemmas that arise in our own lives.” (Vaclav Havel)
“I was totally blown away by this book. It is a breathtaking combination of the historical and the personal. Albright confronts the brutal realities of the Holocaust and the conflicted moral choices it led to. An unforgettable tale of fascism and communism, courage and realism, families and heartache and love. (Walter Isaacson)
“A genuinely admirable book. Albright skillfully returns us to some of the darkest years of modern times. Spring eventually came to Prague, but in much of the world it is still winter. The love of democracy fills every one of these instructive and stirring pages.” (Leon Wieseltier)

What listeners say about Prague Winter

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Fascinating

Thank you for this fascinating truth about my homeland and clarification of so many questions I had.
This is an amazing great book lovely to listen to Madeleine.
Terezie Srncova

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I Lived in Prague

I lived in Prague for two full years 1993 to 1995. This book filled in so much in the way of details of the historic figures that you heard about over there. What a great book and great life’s story.

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Excellent

This book is so full of history I will listen again for a second time. Well worth it. Love that she narrates her own books.

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Excellent and compelling story

This is an excellent and compelling story that blends first hand accounts with a broader view of the German takeover of Czechoslovakia, WW2 and the communist coup in Czechoslovakia. The book also introduces some unsung hero’s of democracy, who should get more attention. Madeleine Albright does an amazing reading the story. It is a must read!

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Learn history from the people who lived it

This book made all the intricacies, subtleties, and intertwined histories of the countries of Eastern Europe before, during, and after WWII much more clear and understandable. Madeleine Albright is a fantastic reader and I'm beginning to feel as if I really know her.

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More than a memoir.

This book goes well beyond the story of Sec’y Albright’s family during WWII. It gives an overview of Czech history, culture and government ending post WWII. A loving and insightful book.

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the history of Czechoslovakia in the eyes of Madel

I assumed this book would contain a combination of political and military history, but I expected more of Madeleine's own story. It seemed to be, rather, just a history book told in the first person. The proportions of each were reversed. I was excited to have Mrs. Albright herself read it, but she read stiffly, without the easy, natural cadence I had expected.

Many times I came very close to quitting -- something I do very rarely. But amid the dry parts, there were laugh- outloud moments and touching vignettes -- but far too many "I should/shouldn't just quit" moments. Most importantly to me, there were "Keeper Quotes" that kept me going with intermittent reinforcement!

The descriptions of the Communist riots and political anti-government protests were a timely message to the citizens of the US in 2021. Scary to see fascist leftists - in this book and on the streets.

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great history

I was expecting a little more memoire, but the history she shared was phenomenal. Mrs. Albright is a wonderful storyteller.

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Amazing

I started the book before I went to visit Prague. It was my second visit and I loved the city the first time and the second time even more, to know what happened there and the people behind the situation gave me a bigger understanding of the city. I always admired Madeleine Albright, but to listen to her story intertwined with the historical facts make this book personal and interesting. I enjoyed every minute even the ones I had to listen again when the facts and my lack of knowledge of second war made me google for more information to continue. A great book I enjoyed every minute

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Great Listen

Great review of history
Makes you think how fragile life is and how our seemingly structured day to day lives are!
Keeping in mind that everything we strive for could be stripped away in flash if we allow corruption to guide our lives and country
Madeline reading this story was great but only at 1.25 speed 1.0 speed her voice dragged to much to keep interest

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