"One of the most brilliant and illuminating interpreters of modern eastern Europe . a wonderfully vivid writer . He reaches the parts that others do not reach."--Richard Davy, The Times "The best single account of what happened--and why."-- Newsweek The definitive account of Solidarity's spectacular rise and tragic fall . a book to set the record straight . amply documented, indispensable."--John Darnton, New York Times Book Review A brilliant eyewitness and analyst, Timothy Garton Ash in this book offers a gripping account of the Polish shipyard workers who defied their communist rulers in 1980.

He describes the emergence of the improbable leader Lech Walesa, the ensuing tumult that culminated in martial law, and--for this updated edition--the fate of the Solidarity movement in subsequent years.