A Life Dedicated to the Republic: Vavro Srobár's Slovak Czechoslovakism

Book excerpt: In this stunning biography, Josette Baer re-traces the eventful life of the Slovak politician Vavro Srobár, the principal figure in the implementation of Czechoslovak democracy in Slovakia. Spanning from his student days and his fight for Slovak civil rights in Upper Hungary via his ministerial positions during the First Czechoslovak Republic to his active resistance against German fascism, Baer’s research paints a most comprehensive picture. Based on rich archive material available to the English-reading public for the first time, Baer shows how Srobár’s political thought and activities shaped the turbulent history of Czechoslovakia in the first half of the 20th century. Offering unique insights into the political past of a country whose history remains largely under-researched, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the region.