| Title | : | Doze Dias (Em Portugues do Brasil) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 8573029188 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9788573029185 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2006 |
Doze Dias (Em Portugues do Brasil) Reviews
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دوازده روز، کتابی ایست از ویکتور شبشتین، نویسنده مجارستانی . کتاب او که روایتی تکان‌دهنده از انقلاب مجارستان در سال ۱۹۵۶ است را می توان یکی از بهترین آثار غیرداستانی در مورد انقلاب مجارستان و جنگ سرد دانست . نویسنده به گونه ای دقیق و مستند به شرح وقایع این رویداد تاریخی پرداخته و تصویری زنده و ملموس از شجاعت و فداکاری مردم مجارستان در برابر رژیم کمونیستی و شوروی به تصویر می‌کشد.
شبشتین در این کتاب، با استفاده از منابع موثق و مصاحبه با شاهدان عینی، داستان انقلاب مجارستان را از روزهای آغازین اعتراضات دانشجویی تا سرکوب خونین آن توسط نیروهای شوروی روایت کرده. او در این مسیر، به بررسی نقش شخصیت‌های کلیدی انقلاب مانند ایمره ناگی، نخست وزیر انقلاب، و کاردینال میندسنتی، رهبر مذهبی مجارستان، خروشچف دم دمی مزاج ، آندره پوف دورو و آناستاس میکویان پرداخته و پیچیدگی‌های اوضاع سیاسی و اجتماعی مجارستان در آن دوران را به وضوح آشکار می‌کند. کتاب او هم چنین انتقادی است صریح و آشکار از غرب به رهبری آمریکا و سیاست های مزورانه اش ، که از یک طرف مجارها را به قیام و شورش دعوت می کرد و از طرفی دیگر هیچ حمایتی چه مستقیم ویا غیر مستقیم از آن ها نکرد و سبب قتل و عام انقلابیون شد .
یکی از بارزترین ویژگی‌های کتاب دوازده روز را باید دقت و وسواس نویسنده در ارائه جزئیات وقایع انقلاب دانست. شبشتین با ظرافت تمام، تناقضات و ابهامات موجود در روایت‌های مختلف را آشکار کرده و به خواننده کمک می‌کند تا درک عمیق‌تر و دقیق‌تری از این رویداد تاریخی به دست آورد. همچنین او جانب هیچ یک از طرفین درگیر در انقلاب را نمی‌گیرد. او با رویکردی بی‌طرفانه و عاری از پیش‌داوری، به بررسی وقایع انقلاب می‌پردازد و تلاش می‌کند تا حقایق را آنگونه که رخ داده‌اند به تصویر بکشد .
کتاب شبشتین ، قهرمانان و شخصیت های زیادی دارد ، برخی از آنان مانند ایمره ناگی و یانوش کادار و ماتیاش راکوشی در تاریخ مجارستان ، اثر گذارتر و مهم تر هستند . کل کتاب را می توان در دو دوئل ، یکی میان ناگی و انقلابیون و راکوشی و دیگری میان ناگی و انقلابیون و یانو�� کادار خلاصه کرد . نبرد اول گرچه به نفع انقلابیون تمام شد اما با ورود همه جانبه شوروی ، انقلاب به نبردی تبدیل شد که پایان و سرنوشت آن کاملا مشخص بود . در این میان ایمره ناگی که فردی راستگو ، صادق و با تمام وجود معتقد به سوسیالیسم بود ، از بخت بد ، زمانی به قدرت رسید که مجارها دیگر اعتقادی به کمونیسم نداشتند .ناگی با وجود آنکه می توانست به آسانی به انقلاب خیانت کرده و جانب روسها را بگیرد تا پایان در کنار مردم ماند .
یهودای انقلاب ، یانوش کادار را نمی توان یک خائن دانست . کادار چنان نقش پیچیده ای در تاریخ مجارستان ایفا کرده که او را به چهره ای بسیار مهم اما بحث بر انگیز تبدیل کرده . او با وجود خیانت به انقلاب و ناگی و خشونت و بی رحمی با انقلابیون ، به مرور زمان به چهره ای معتدل تبدیل شد . اصلاحات سیاسی و اقتصادی کادار ، به آزادی های سیاسی و اقتصادی مبدل شد که مجارستان را تبدیل به الگویی در جبهه شرق کرد . او گرچه صدها نفر را هنگام انقلاب و پس از آن گُشت اما زندگی را برای میلیونها نفر دیگر راحت و سهل تر کرد .
اما مردم مجارستان را باید قهرمانان اصلی کتاب دانست . آنها با شجاعت و فداکاری در برابر رژیم کمونیستی و اربابش شوروی ایستادگی کرده و برای آزادی خود مبارزه کردند. آنها با وجود سرکوب‌های خونین، از خواسته‌های خود عقب‌نشینی نکردند و الهام‌بخش نسل‌های آینده شدند.
خروشچف که تا قبل از این بحران ، چهره ای معتدل ، نرم و تحول خواه از خود نشان داده بود در برابر انقلاب مجارستان ، واکنشی سخت و شدید داشت . هجوم همه جانبه به مجارستان با ارتش سرخ ، بزرگترین و قوی ترین نیروی نظامی در آن زمان و ندادن فرصت به ناگی برای آرام کردن اوضاع ، سیمای معتدل خروشچف را در جهان تغییر داد و چهره او را به قصاب کرملین ، استالین ، که خروشچف ضد او و سیاست های او ، بود ، شبیه کرد .
دیگر چهره میانه رو داستان ، یوری آندره پوف ، دبیرکل حزب کمونیست در سالهای بعد که هنگام انقلاب سفیر شوروی در مجارستان بود را باید نماد وقاحت و دروغ گویی دانست . او با تسلطی شیطانی بر خود ، چنان با مهارت و وقاحت به ناگی ، بارها و بارها دروغ گفته و او را از جریان واقعیت به دور نگه داشت . آندره پوف مرزهای وقاحت و دروغ گویی را حتی در میان حاکمان شوروی ، بالا و بالاتر برد و رکورد جدیدی به نام خود نوشت . نقش میکویان هم در این بحران بسیار برجسته بوده . او که به عنوان کارشناس مجارستان و نماینده ویژه خروشچف یه بودا پست سفر کرده بود از ابتدا تا انتها با حمله مخالف بوده و تلاش می کرده خروشچف را از حمله منصرف کند ، تلاشهای او که تا لحظه آخر هم ادامه داشت کارساز نشد .
دیگر ضد قهرمان های این داستان تلخ را باید در جایی خارج از شوروی و مجارستان ، یعنی در آمریکا جستجو کرد . تیمی که برای ایرانیان هم بسیار شناخته شده . آیزنهاور ، دالس وزیر امور خارجه و دالس رییس سیا .این تیم که سه سال پیش کودتا ضد دکتر مصدق را طراحی و اجرا کرده بود این بار با سکوت و نادیده گرفتن قیام مجارها ، با وجود آنکه پیشتر به تمامی مردمان در بند کمونیسم وعده یاری و کمک داده بود ، به سلاخی و قتل عام ملت توسط روسها کمک کرد .
شبشتین با قلمی توانا و گیرا، تصویری زنده و تکان‌دهنده از انقلاب مجارستان به تصویر کشیده. او با استفاده از جزئیات دقیق، توصیفات ملموس و لحنی احساسی، خواننده را به قلب وقایع برده و او را در غم و اندوه، خشم و امید مردم مجارستان شریک می‌کند. دوازده روزرا باید فراتر از یک کتاب تاریخی صرف ، بلکه همانند یک اثر ادبی فاخر دانست که خواننده را تا واپسین صفحات کتاب مجذوب خود می‌کند. -
As a Hungarian-American who lived through the period of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (we even took in two refugee families at different times),
Victor Sebestyen's
Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution help refresh my memory. Plus, it made me even more furious at the Eisenhower administration's craven failure to pay any attention to the failed efforts of my people to break free of the Soviet yoke.
During the Revolution, the propagandists at Radio Free Europe, in effect, kept promising American and UN aid, going so far as to give specific military advice. But the eyes of Eisenhower and of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold were on the Suex Crisis, which was taking place at the same time. Even the Russians were nonplussed: They had lined 20,000 troops with armor and artillery along the Austrian-Hungarian border in expectation of an invasion.
Over the long haul, the Hungarians won. Janos Kadar, who was put into power by Kruschchev proved to be a good leader -- years after he had all the uprising participants executed. After the Hungarian people, the biggest casualty of the Revolution was all the Communist parties of Europe. Russia's naked aggression did not stand well with the West, and it was one of those subtle turning points in history that preceded by some thirty years the collapse of Soviet Communism itself. -
While a lot narratives of the Budapest upspring seems to focus on Soviet brutality, Sebestyen’s work takes a fairly balanced look at the situation which also involves a severe rivalry between Hungarian political factions who are both slavishly seeking Soviet support.
Sebestyen’s story flows easily and notes the relevant issues including previous Hungarian purges, the Voice of America broadcasts that encouraged the Hungarians to revolt (though this was not the policy or wish of the Eisenhower administration), the Soviets own struggle to create a solution without using force, and the even the excesses of Hungarian citizens’ lynching members of the Hungarian secret Police.
This a well done narrative of a (failed) revolution and it’s aftermath that is concise while still providing the needed context. -
This was an excellent, engaging and quite informative read which happened just when I needed it.
I've been interested in the 1956 Hungarian Uprising/Revolution for quite a long time, but - by sheer coincidence - one week upon finishing 'Twelve Days' I finally visited Budapest for the very first time.
I guess it might have been rather annoying for my partner (she has just confirmed that it was) being led through the Hungarian capital by me unawaringly lecturing her on events and anecdotes from October '56. And I reckon how more than once I juxtaposed the monumental main streets and squares we were navigating through with the black and white pictures depicting Soviet tanks, urban guerrilla, rubble and destruction dating back to the uprising. Sorry for that, Paulina! And blame on you, Victor Sebestyen.
For reading 'Twelve Days' brought me straight into a Budapest that is no more. I got sucked into a time vortex blowing me away from A.D. 2014 Poland and leaving me stranded but not confused in 1956 Hungary.
It took Mr Sebestyen's wizardry only a few pages to captivate me and - much to his merit - once I get into the history whirlwind I was reluctant to get out of it. I'll tell you why.
'Twelve Days' is one of those rare history books where the context is introduced and explained thoroughly, the chronology is always clear and the narration manages to be enthralling, coherent and consistent. It reads like a well-plotted political spy story with a Machiavellian cast of characters, but it deals with one of the darkest pages in recent European history.
Despite of the title he chose, the author doesn't rush to the brave and bloody twelve days of the 1956 uprising/revolution. At the contrary, Mr Sebestyen takes his time to explain what happened to Budapest and Hungary during and after World War II. By doing so the Anglo-Hungarian historian skilfully introduces the readers to a place and time they might not be familiar with and gradually builds up the book to its climax.
Each of the main domestic characters who played a major part in the events leading to 1956 and following it - Matyas Rakosi, Erno Gero, Laszlo Rajk, Imre Nagy, Janos Kadar - is carefully disclosed in an unbiased and quite objective way. True, when it comes to villains Mr Sebestyen stresses out Gero's 'sadistic smile' or Rakosi's 'overwhelming cynicism', but one must not forget that these men sent thousands of people to death and are justly remembered as criminals by Hungarians.
What I've found interesting is that the author doesn't depict Imre Nagy - now considered a hero and a martyr by his compatriots - as an entirely positive character. In fact, Sebestyen does quite the opposite by showing us an often undecided politician, an excessively cautious man uncapable to cut the bounds tying him to the USSR and reluctant to accept the moral leadership the Budapest crowds granted him.
In the same fashion, Janos Kadar - the man who took over the power after the uprising/revolution was crushed to bits by the Soviet tanks - could be included into the villains ranks as he was 'loathed as a Judas' by Hungarians. And yet, Sebestyen doesn't portray Kadar as merely a Muscovite puppet but reckons how in the years following the uprising he actually did something to soften things up leading to the so called 'goulash socialism'.
On a side note, my only criticism to the author is that he might have done a better job on the international stage.
The role played in smashing the uprising by a deus ex machina such as Nikita Kruscev in Moscow is explained but not investigated as much as it could have been. Looking Westwards, Sebestyen expresses some mild criticism towards the lack of interest in Hungary from the US and the UN, but eventually justifies both Eisenhower and Hammarskjoeld for their giving priority to the Suez crisis unfolding in the very same days.
This point of view is a tad too simplicistic to be accepted completely, but Sebestyen did such an excellent job overall that I can forgive him.
If you are interested in knowing more about the 1956 Hungarian uprising, revolution (or whatever you call it), 'Twelve Days' is a book to get and read soon. -
Puntuale e interessante resoconto riguardante gli antefatti, i fatti e le successive conseguenze che gravitano intorno alla rivoluzione ungherese del 1956 contro l'opprimente giogo moscovita.
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Sebestyan is best in the middle section of this book. A fast-paced but heavily detailed narrative presented on a day-by-day structure that was well suited to events. I enjoyed the little journalistic flourishes that brought the personalities to life: Cardinal Mindszenty tucking up his cassock so that he wouldn't be identified as a priest; Defence Minister Maléter patting his holster as he remarked the uprising didn't mean end of Socialism in Hungary. This sort of detail is either imagined or researched, the cross referencing of accounts suggests it is researched. Excellent.
The problem is in the Prelude and Aftermath sections where he tries to replicate this one day at time approach. It doesn't work: the causes and effects of the uprising can't be distinctly packaged into events. What's more trying to squeeze them into a diary format means that some important things have been left out.
For example, many of the Hungarian combatants were teenagers and would have been small childen when Budapest was besieged in 1944. During that time over 48,000 Axis, 70,000 Soviet and 76,000 Civilians were killed. Afterwards 400,000 Hungarians were sent to the Gulag, and 30,000 were raped. It makes the 2,500 combat deaths, 2,500 executions and 22,000 arrrests of 1956 pale into insignificance. Would the uprising have happened at all if a generation of Budapest's children hadn't been utterly brutalised? For a blistering fictional account of this time see
Under the Frog, for the facts see
Battle for Budapest.
The Aftermath is a mere sketch, mostly concerned with the immmediate implications for Hungary and the conduct of the Cold War - America is of disproportionate interest to Sebestyan. He remarks that in 1989 the post-Soviet republic was created on October 23rd, yet there is no analysis of the how current Hungarian politics is caught in the shadow of '56. Which is strange seeing as I found his research enlightening here.
The uprising was spontaneous and leaderless, or at least conducted by small groups whose only common ground was a hatred of the Russians. At one stage the teenage rebels of the Corvin Cinema were exchanging fire with the patriotic soldiers at Killian Barracks. There was a strong element of civil war that Sebestyan doesn't linger on. Yet, the hatreds of the civil war are apparent today in the frequent disorder that occurs on the anniversary of the uprising, and the attempt by the current Government to rewrite the 1989 settlement. 1956 is still a very divisive event in Hungarian politics, and I can't even guess why it is given the prominence it is. If we want to celebrate a national tragedy, shouldn't we be looking at '44 instead? -
Sebestyen provides an impressive amount of information about the curious events that took place in Budapest in the autumn of 1956, in a style that is very easy to read. Unfortunately, the author is a journalist, not a historian: little effort has been made to distinguish the significant from the trivial, and facts from suppositions. The rather messy annotation doesn't help either. Most annoying are the author's inclination to impress his personal views about the 1956 events upon the reader, and his childish habit of emphasizing the obvious. (What's the point of calling a torturer for the secret police 'sadistic'? That would have been in his job description, wouldn't it?)
There are quite a few books about the 1956 uprising (not a revolution, I daresay). This one describes the events in great detail, but leaves it up to the reader to put them in historical and moral perspective. "Twelve Days" is certainly interesting, but it's far from brilliant. If you have been looking for the definitive handbook on the Hungarian uprising, I'm afraid this book doesn't even come close. -
Twelve Days is a close read of the 1953 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet occupation. Author Victor Sebestyen, historian of Eastern Europe, recounts “a story of heroic failure, of awe-inspiring courage in a doomed cause, and of ruthless cruelty.” Sebestyen describes the Hungarian uprising in chronological fashion: the descent of the Iron Curtain, the installation of pro-Stalinist leadership and the destruction of political opposition, the Warsaw Pact and Soviet military occupation, accretion of public opposition to the oppressive accoutrements of communist life, the initial Soviet invasion and staunch guerrilla resistance, the fleeting moments of success as Soviet forces beat a tactical retreat, and lastly Khruschev’s ruthless “restoration of order” through a blitzkrieg operation to seize the capital of Budapest. Sebastyen knits together all the threads in the historical moment: the deliberative and insecure Soviets, who felt their grip on a vassal state loosening and in need of a firming; Hungarian leadership, mostly Soviet lackeys, who showed occasional moments of national fortitude; student revolutionaries, who devised homespun yet effective tactics to gum up the Soviet advance. Ultimately, the Revolution proved to be stillborn – the unfortunate victim of a decrepit empire seeking to scrap together the shards of its of geopolitical legitimacy. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that free rule is neither guaranteed nor priceless – a reality that is on full display in many corners of the former Soviet Union today.
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Well-written account of the harrowing experience of the Hungarian revolution against the hated Russian occupiers and communist regime in October 1956. Sebastyen prefixes the 12 days of revolution with an excellent introduction of the brutal suppression of the Hungarians under the Stalinist leader Rakosi and leads on to the surprising and short-lived success of the initial revolt before its inevitable crushing by Soviet military might and ignored by the rest of the world focusing on Suez. Sebastyen includes moving 1st hand descriptions of the events and the horrendous results. Should be required reading for all advocates of communism.
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Borrow.
From an informative standpoint this fits the bill just fine and I would absolutely recommend. The writing is good but lacks that little something that makes a writer excellent - mostly in its flow. Nonetheless, really happy to have filled in some blind spots on modern Hungarian history. -
I read this on the flight to Budapest this summer. I really know (knew!) nothing about Hungary and wanted to have some kind of familiarity with its recent history.
I am SO glad I picked this up. It is written in an easy to read, narrative style, but still heavy on the history and details.
Having read this prior to my visit, I appreciated all of the monuments (official and not) that are scattered around Budapest (from the shoes on the Danube, to Monument Park, to the bullet holes left in the buildings in Pest...).
I highly recommend it if you want to know more about Hungary's role in WWII. It also makes an interesting study in social movements. -
Excellent book on an often over looked topic, using declassified documents from both sides in order to paint a complete picture. The author does a good job of blending the first hand accounts, the politics, the quotes, and the documents into a flowing narrative. An interesting struggle where few stood against many, in what ended as being ultimately futile.
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While visiting Budapest in the 90's, I was stuck by all the old buildings still showing pockmarks of small arms and tank fire from the 1956 Hungarian revolution. It incensed me to think how many of the Russian bullets and shells found bodies instead of buildings.
While reading
Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution by
Victor Sebestyen, one can't help but realize the similarities of the Hungarian revolution with events transpiring in Ukraine today. The two invasions are NOT the same - Ukraine is not staging a revolution, as Hungary was in 1956 - it is a sovereign nation; the number of troops and firepower brought to bear by the Russians is far greater in Ukraine than in Hungary, and the structural damage and slaughter of lives is far more extensive in Ukraine, but the world’s reaction to Russia’s aggression is much the same. The second paragraph of the introduction bears out the similitude: “A small nation, its people armed with little more than rifles and petrol bombs, had the will to rise up against one of the world’s superpowers. The passionate determination of the Hungarians to resister the Russians astonished outsiders.”
A Hungarian citizen said, “The tanks opened fire on the people standing in the food line.” In Ukraine Russians bombed a theater filled with refugees, many of them children, even with the word “KIDS” written clearly in Russian for the attackers to see.
In both instances of Russian brutality, American leaders chose to take an “active non-involvement” policy course and as for the world leaders, “After ten days of crisis in Hungary the UN had decided – absolutely nothing.”, much like the UN and the NATO nations have accomplished thus far for Ukraine.
In 1956, “-NATO headquarters, on the orders of Eisenhower, had been given particular instructions to do nothing that could be interpreted as provocative– “, and a Russian tank commander told his men, “Yes. This could be the beginning of World War Three.” Imre Nagy, the Hungarian leader at the time said, “Today it is Hungary and tomorrow or the day after tomorrow it will be the turn of other countries because the imperialism of Moscow knows no borders…” How is this language any different than we are hearing in 2022?
According to the book, when things started going badly for the Russian forces, many thought Khrushchev was in trouble and might lose power for his decisions in 1956. Some say the same about Putin; that his vicious, bloody attack on the people of Ukraine will be his downfall…Don’t count on it; Khrushchev stayed in power for eight years after the revolution.
I don’t think we should continue to compare Putin to Hitler. Hitler’s aggression stemmed mostly from antisemitism and racism. Putin is driven by a need for power and possession at the expense of everyone and everything in his way. Putin should be likened more to Ivan the Terrible or Stalin, being prone to paranoia, rage, and mental instability. You can bet that if more isn’t done to stop the aggression and warring nature of the Kremlin, there will be more Russian leaders of that ilk. -
The 1956 Hungarian Revolution is an intimate part of my life as the daughter of a father born in Hungary, who lived it and family was destroyed by it. Yet few Americans realize the Hungarian Revolution was the start of the end of the Cold War. Trapped in the middle of Europe, Hungarians endured Fascism only to be replaced by Communism after WWII. Of the communist countries ruled by Russia, Hungary wasn’t the first to rebel against their dictators but they endured the most brutal treatment of any satellite nation. Even if you have no ties to Hungary, you will find this story about a plucky country who said “no more” to the Russians and the Warsaw Pact, declaring themselves an independent country. You will meet the named and unsung heroes (as well as unspeakable villains) of the Revolution including children and women who joined the men to take back their country.
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A marvel of editing. Names spelled differently on the same page! Chapter 31 is “Sunday, 4th November” while chapter 32 is “Friday, 7th November”! (Poor planning to switch from the Julian calendar during a revolution, I guess.)
This one takes the cake, though: “The gifted Paris-Match photographer Jean-Pierre Pedrazzini, twenty-nine, *on one of his earliest war zone assignments,* stepped from behind the cover of a tank for a split second to take a picture. He was caught in the crossfire — from which side nobody knows — and was shot in the stomach. He died of his wounds a few days later in Paris.” Either his earliest war zone assignment was also his last, or his brutal editors sent him on a lot of war zone assignments while he was dying of his wounds. -
Overall an excellent account of the events that transpired. I have to wonder if Eisenhower learned his rhetoric from Churchill as well as the lack of practice. Long before Hungary was abandoned by the West, Poland was not only abandoned but Soldiers and Airmen who helped defend England and Invade Nazi Europe weren’t even allowed to March in the victory parade with the other Allied nations. The abandonment of Poland in 45-46, was a precursor to Hungary and unfortunately confirmed the reluctance of England and the US to live the rhetoric in actuality. It would have been interesting to hear more about English thought, or perhaps Egypt really did trump the continent for English attention other than speeches?
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An excellent account of the heroic resistance of the Hungarian people against communist tyranny. The books starts with a very helpful overview of the years leading up to the uprising. The author very clearly shows the brutality and duplicity of the communist Russians. The book only has one part which didn't need to be included about what the debauched communist soldiers did to a woman.
This story is a grim case in point of what happens to a country that accepts communism. Seizure of property, collective farms, persecution of the Catholic church, poverty, and an oppressive police state are just some examples of what communism did. -
A very detailed account of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Someone wrote in my library copy that there were lots of grammar errors, but there were maybe 5 throughout the entire book, so someone needs to chill out. If you're interested in the topic, and are super into details, Sebestyen has given you the perfect book for it.
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باشد که بتوان این مکان را آزاد کرد
از زنجیرهای بیداد و ستم
آزادی، آرزویی است که در دل انسان خوابیده
و زمانی که بر آن فکر می‌کند، برکنار می‌شود
آزادی، هم‌نوری است با خورشید
و هم‌نوا با آوای باد
دست‌های بسته را آزاد کنید
تا انسان به وجود خود برگردد -
Incredible, detailed history leading up to the revolution during and just after. A must read before a trip to Budapest to understand the country and people more!
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Very sad but fair. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Hungary after WWII.
