Klaus - Portrét politika ve dvaceti obra – Pehe Jiří (2010)

Political scientist and writer Jiří Pehe provides a comprehensive view of Václav Klaus's influence in both Czech and foreign politics in his new book. The author is known as a long-time critic of Klaus, yet in his portrait, he attempts to describe and evaluate not only the weaknesses but also the strengths of this political figure. He avoids sensationalist tactics, such as various shocking revelations and assumptions, as well as cheap psychologizing. As the basic method of his approach, the author chose an interpretation year by year from the revolution in 1989 to the present. This allows him to vividly capture various themes, aspects, and traits of Klaus's personality, as well as the development and changes in his opinions and nature. At the same time, the book provides a coherent overview of the political, economic, and social development in the Czech Republic over the past twenty years, as Václav Klaus was naturally involved in all significant matters and influenced events, whether directly as a representative of power or indirectly through his opinions, stances, and comments. Jiří Pehe's book is the very first attempt - excluding numerous adulations and self-adulations as well as superficial pamphlets - to seriously map and critically evaluate the significance and place of this controversial figure in modern Czech history.