Good Soldier Wolf

This book is a dramatic and highly readable account of the life of a political activist in Czechoslovakia during the period 1952-1990. It covers many aspects of Czechoslovakian culture and history, including orphanages, prisons, protests, strikes, the Soviet invasion of 1968, and the 1989 'Velvet Revolution.' The authors also believe that the telling of Wolf's life is tremendously important in today's society; it demonstrates how the actions of ordinary people can make a difference. While Wolf was being held in jail, thousands of letters piled on the prison warden's desk in Czechoslovakia. It provided Wolf with the feeling that someone cared, and he derived strength from that fact. The letters also showed the prison officials, politicians, and others that their cruel actions were being watched. In the end, the story indicated that when people band together for a good cause, their concerted efforts can make this a better world.