1698 Czechoslovakia Since World War II, by Tad Szulc (read 6 Mar 1982) When I started this book I did not expect much. After all, this story is not new to me, having read a couple of books of the subject in April of 1981. But this book, though footnoteless, really seems to tell its story. Its author was with the New York Times in Czechoslovakia till he was expelled in December 1968. The book tells the incredible story of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, and one is just astounded by the account: how can people seriously defend the official Communist line on events there? I kept thinking of those soapbox speeches I used to listen to in New York in 1953, and wondered if there were in the same square during 1968 those who defended Russia's actions in Czechoslovakia. I cannot believe there were. It is a sad, sad story, and I don't think anything has improved since 1971, when this excellent account was published. ( )