The Gate: the last year of socialism

1989, during the final days of the faltering communist government, uniquely chronicled day by day. The author, a legal historian, maps out the year's stories based on archives and personal experiences. An era of black marketeers, corruption, and fluctuating hopes. From what roots did today's oligarchs and politicians grow? Why did the harpooning of a whale near Charles Bridge in August resonate more with the public than all the proclamations of the Charter? How was it that the descendants of prominent dissidents were able to study prestigious subjects at university?