Invasion 68: Prague
"The 250 photographs in this book constitute a rare and poetic vision of a nation coming together, not in victory but in defeat. The images of young people sitting in front tanks, or boys strutting with their flag, certainly convey widespread defiance, anger, betrayal, and bits of commendable bravura. But even more compelling are Koudelka's pictures showing the private expressions of fear of citizens as they reflexively draw their fists to their cheeks or gape in open-mouthed horror or simply stand in stoop-shouldered but unmistakably sullen submission as the Soviets direct traffic. Koudelka took his photos as his own gesture of personal resistance." -- Michael T. Kaufman --Barnes & Noble Review"Episodes unfurl only inches from his camera lens, and the surreal terror of these circumstances--wherein ordinary unarmed civilians took to the streets to face down tanks and helicopters--is communicated in every photograph." -- Robert Ayers --Art News"A handful of the published images in Josef Koudelka's 'Invasion 68: Prague'... defined how we saw the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Indeed, his graphic verve and courage--like most of his fellow citizens, he was unarmed and confronting men in tanks--became a template for war photojournalists ever after. This book of largely unpublished material shows why Mr. Koudelka continues to be so revered." -- Richard B. Woodward --The Wall Street Journal"The engaging and humanistic aspect and the quality of the work is in the faces and gestures of the inhabitants of Prague and the young soldiers, who hardly seem to understand what they are doing. These remain stunning pictures, balancing an enormous amount of visual information and human tragedy. Koudelka aimed his camera at those moments of disbelief, rage, heroism and confidence when humans show who they are. This book, along with its historical value, shares with us its lesson and message about which there can be no mistake."  --Foam: International Photography Magazine