Vaclav Havel, like Nelson Mandella, demonstrated in his life the difficulties facing non-politicians when they achieve political power. For years he inspired the Czech resistance to the communist regime that ruled his country even when the Russian bear appeared red in tooth and claw. He used his playwriting skills to maintain a steady but subtle form of criticism aimed at the appatchiks who ran his beloved country. In return they ran constant surveillance of, and threatening restrictions to, his life. Never daunted, his reputation grew and he became a symbol of the 'Velvet Revolution'. In the end, the Soviets crumbled and their satellites with them. He became president of his country and thereby learned the hard way the difference between political theory and political practice. Never happy with the baubles and ceremonies of high office, nevertheless, he carried on until eventually, ill health and general disillusionment, led him to resign and retire gracefully - and gratefully!
One Anglo-Czech writer, and a good friend and admirer of Havel, is Tom Stoppard. His play, Rock 'n' Roll, is a superb evocation of life under the apparatchiks. He and havel were good friends and I hope that Stoppard will be moved and inspired by Havel's death to write a play based on his life.
Sorry, this was written in some hast because,as the 'Memsahib' keeps reminding me, we are due for lunch with a neighbour!
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