Letters from Prison

by Milan Šimečka, Václav Havel

Next to Vaclav Havel, Milan Šimečka was the most important, and most widely translated, dissident opposing Czechoslovakia's communist regime. Many of his essays and articles appeared in leading American and British periodicals during the 1970s and 80s, and his book, The Restoration of Order ( Verso, 1984), is considered a brilliant analysis of real socialism and the neo-Stalinist normalization policy instituted under Gustav Husak.

Simecka was imprisoned from 1981-82 under Paragraph 98 of the Criminal Code ("Subversion of the Republic"). His smuggling his texts out of the country to be published abroad. The letters in this volume were written during his stay in prison. In them he was not allowed to mention politics, so he wrote about people, love, and human relations. The selection of letters presented here bear witness to his attitude to other people, to his imprisonment and the period in which he lived, as well as his personal philosophy. They contain philosophical reflections as well as practical advice to his sons and words of encouragement to his wife. Similar to Havel's Letters to Olga, Šimečka's Letters from Prison give us a glimpse into the difficult struggle undertaken by Czechoslovak dissidents in opposition to a Soviet-styled regime that was considered the most hard-line in Eastern Europe.

Genres: Nonfiction

172 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Il'ja Rákoš · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Slovak philosopher's correspondence with his family during his incarceration in the early '80s on charges of "Subversion of the Republic". The period of soviet-enforced, Czechoslovak-implemented, 'normalization' has resulted - directly and indirectly - in some pretty outstanding literature, if you've read Kundera, Klima, Havel, or this author.

The essays included here on "the Nature of Reality" are wonderful, but it's the powerful love letters to his wife and sons which display the spirit that defines the bond of family, a spirit which consequently drives the purveyors of any orthodoxy, any ideology, over the edge. Milan Šimečka, his heart weakened but his soul intact, was eventually released from prison. The regime he opposed, heartless and soulless, finally disintegrated.

A little miracle of a book.

Includes a brief biography of Milan Šimečka. Edited and translated by the author's close friend, Gerald Turner.

[Christopherseelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half is really interesting. These letters tell you so much about an interesting man in a challenging situation. The experience of inprisonment for dissent from the government's version of reality is illustrated more from what is not said than what is. Prisoners were not allowed to discuss politics in their letters, you see. The second half, in which the author becomes more philosophical with his sons, moves slower, but is perhaps a more direct inquiry into his situation.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jailed for publishing articles abroad, Milan used his time in prison to muse on life and his family. As awful as it is to think of a world where intellectuals are jailed for their thought, it’s almost a blessing that he spent time in prison for the resulting letters collected here, full of tenderness and the philosophy of raising children, loving a wife whom you can’t be with and being a countryman.

[Jason Mashak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it's at times too heavy. Written while Simecka was in prison, it of course gets tedious at times, much like every hour of his days must have been. He was one of the finest amateur philosophers you'll ever encounter, and apparently a great family man... and indeed a phenomenal citizen, that any country would be proud to call its own. Kudos to Twisted Spoon Press for another amazing discovery set by them to English music.