Freedom for Publishing, Publishing for Freedom - Hardcover

by Timothy Garton Ash (Author)

This is an assessment of the Central and East European Publishing Project, an initiative designed to support embattled Central and East European publishers and journals, and to punch holes through the cultural Iron Curtain by encouraging translations. The nine years of its existence straddle the largest watershed in European history since 1945, and the Project's history - told here by some of its leading participants - illuminates the nature of the recent changes in Central and Eastern Europe.

Back Jacket

The Oxford-based Central and East European Publishing Project was a remarkable initiative to support embattled Central and East European publishers and journals, and to punch holes through the cultural iron curtain by encouraging translations and a 'common market of the mind' between East and West. The nine years of its existence straddle the largest watershed in European history since 1945, and the Project's history - told here by some of its leading participants - illuminates the nature of the recent changes in Central and Eastern Europe. In a vivid personal account, Timothy Garton Ash recalls the work of the Project, ranging from smuggling in subsidies to underground journals and samizdat publishers in the pre-1989 period to supporting high-quality translations and East-West workshops in the period after 1989. Also included are an Introduction in which Ralf Dahrendorf, Chairman of the Project, reflects on the importance of both publishing and foundations for a healthy civil society; an annotated catalogue of the Project's work, prepared by Elizabeth Winter; and a detailed and original report by Richard Davy on the state of publishing in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, with suggestions for further Western help.

Author Biography

Timothy Garton Ash is well known for his writings on postwar Europe. His books include The Polish Revolution, The Uses of Adversity, We the People and In Europe's Name: Germany and the Divided Continent. He is general editor of the Central European Classics series, also published by CEU Press.

Ralf Dahrendorf is Warden of St Antony's College, Oxford, and one of Europe's most distinguished social thinkers. His recent books include Reflections on the Revolution in Europe and The Modern Social Conflict. He was Chairman of the Central and East European Publishing Project throughout its existence.

Richard Davy has been an editorial writer on The Times and the Independent and has written for many years on Central and East European affairs.

Elizabeth Winter is an assistant editor at the Times Literary Supplement and a specialist on Russian and East European literature. She was Project Director of the Central and East European Publishing Project for six of its nine years.