Revolution of Eastern Europe - Essay Example

As most people have dissimilar interpretations of history and the almost endless variety of interpretations and experiences that a writer brings to that set of evidence makes reading and studying the past more interesting. Yet not all interpretations of the past are deemed valid as some are simply beyond the burden of evidence and fair interpretation of the historical record is neglected. To communicate a sound interpretation of a historical phenomenon, “an eyewitness account” should come within the period.

            Ash’s extremely readable book is a detailed recount in essay form of the political transformation and revolution of Eastern Europe. He wrote about the events that politically transformed Poland, Hungary, Eastern Germany, and Czechoslovakia which teaches us lessons against communism and glorifies the struggle for freedom. With his account of the revolt in Budapest and Hungary, the events that exactly took place with the fall of the Berlin Wall continue to captivate and inform readers. The happenings in Prague were given out in vivid detail with personal accounts of the leading anti-communist figures. The long and elaborate observations however failed to explain the failures of the earlier movement to destabilize communism which could have completed the fifth part which summarizes his observations and a few drawn-out conclusions of the first four chapters. The second section of the book traces the changes in Eastern Europe, however failing to discuss how the revolution became logical in an era that defies prediction. His theories drew out the summary in three words-“Gorbachev, Helsinki, and Tocqueville”, who all set the stage for a revolution. His unique work managed to create a storytelling atmosphere that combined facts and analysis into a highly readable and enjoyable piece of work that critically dubbed The Magic Lantern as “sensational, scholarly and literary.
    Reviews have treated his work as a “history of the present” that invites dissenting opinions on the issues concerning a certain time frame that allows history to complete its course. Eventually, issues would sooner or later add up to form part of the whole saga that critics were quick to point out as Ash’s error in writing a somewhat historical piece just after several months after the actual event. We begin to agree with the critics on the sound idea that to recount the history of a certain period, a particular time frame is designated to create a full picture of the results after the tangible and unforgotten era. However, we may be led to believe that Ash was never aiming for the perfect account of the unpredictable. History and journalism have never set a standard within which to form a guide in the chronology and conclusion of writing historical events. Ash’s writing was more of an art akin to creative journalistic writing and may not be taught to follow the elements of a structured history. His exact account leaves us with facts and interesting fragments of his travels along the chronology of an important chapter of recent events.

We are not approaching the modern age with our first few steps--we are in a journey towards scientific advancement and treating literary and journalistic pieces with a degree of control would relegate the writer’s efforts into nothing but a sham. Ash was merely raising his ideas and account of the actual events by verifiable incidents and evidence that he at best can recount. Based on the context of scholarly historical structure, writing is a narrative analysis that often narrates stories in a relatively “traditional” fashion. In Ash, his focus dwells on the ideological issues of a certain region at a certain time. The immediate outcome of their struggles is freedom for which they were rewarded. Causes were not noted and the long-term effect could not be discussed as “The Magic Lantern” was published within a year of the actual conflict.

As mentioned, history is primarily a method by way of understanding the past which takes the form of a written essay. Clear thinking is required throughout the order of sentences that constructs clarity of ideas. Consequently, it is expressed through a written and organized paragraph development that persuasively explains the facts. It has the standard and precision that communicates and demonstrates its meaning.

Ash may have forgotten about the consequences that completing the actual recount as a standard for good historical writing but in journalism and history, the qualities and characters involved are shaped by the unique presence that has captured the scenario inside the actual lives of subjects. As a historian, a novelist, and a journalist; Ash has succeeded in captivating us all with the account of a history that has created a greater impact in our lives. Albeit lacking in the actual structure called for in the elements of a perfect history book, the aim of disseminating his ideas and the recount of the actual events is heavily imparted to its readers.