Havel then and now

From The Sunday Times: Czech playwright Vaclav Havel is one of our favorite subjects here on the Gofer, but how could he not be? After all, how many playwrights have also been the leader of their country? Or, put another way, would you want to see a play by George Bush? Either of them?

This profile takes the long view, catching him at two key moments in his life. The first comes back in 1989 when, as the Velvet Revolution continued to coalesce around Havel, "an aide rushed in to tell him the Communist party had relinquished its monopoly on power under the weight of public protest. Disbelief, wonderment, joy and once again disbelief passed over his features in quick succession." The second is just a few days ago, as he "anxiously read[s] the reviews of his first play in 20 years."

It's comforting to know that even someone as travelled and sophisticated as Havel still worries about his reviews -- all good, by the way.

Labels: Europe, playwrights, playwriting