Vaclav Havel is one of the most important European writers of our time. In
1979 he was sentenced to four and a half years of hard labour for his
involvement in the Czech human rights movement, Charter 77. In prison he
was allowed to write to his wife, Olga, once a week. He used the
opportunity for profound reflections, on theatre, society and philosophy.
These letters form a remarkable document, and a work of lasting value.'From
Havel, we learn that the true heroes of our time are those who stay the
course.' Bruce Chatwin