内容简介
NationalBookAwardFinalistTIMEMagazine's#1NonfictionBookof2012ANewYorkTimesNotableBookAWashingtonPostTopTenBookof2012BestNonfictionof2012:TheWallStreetJournal,ThePlainDealerInthemuch-anticipatedfollow-uptoherPulitzerPrize-winningGulag,acclaimedjournalistAnneApplebaumdeliversagroundbreakinghistoryofhowCommunismtookoverEasternEuropeafterWorldWarIIandtransformedinfrighteningfashiontheindividualswhocameunderitssway.IronCurtaindescribeshow,spurredbyStalinandhissecretpolice,theCommunistregimesofEasternEuropewerecreatedandwhatdailylifewaslikeoncetheywerecomplete.DrawingonnewlyopenedEastEuropeanarchives,interviews,andpersonalaccountstranslatedforthefirsttime,Applebaumportraysinchillingdetailthedilemmasfacedbymillionsofindividualstryingtoadjusttoawayoflifethatchallengedtheireverybeliefandtookawayeverythingtheyhadaccumulated.AsaresulttheSovietBlocbecamealostcivilization,onewhosecruelty,paranoia,bizarremorality,andstrangeaestheticsApplebaumcapturesintheseelectrifyingpages.