From what I understand, Nagy began his political career as a Soviet-style Communist, but after the death of Stalin he led the liberalizing faction within the Communist government before eventually supporting a new multi-party democracy immediately before and during the Revolution. What were his actual policies and goals in liberalizing Hungary prior to and during the Revolution?

EDIT: Also, could any area experts recommend a good book on the Hungarian Revolution? My grandfather was a rabbi in Budapest who survived the Holocaust only to be sentenced to death for supporting the Revolution (and only escaping through a series of near-miraculous events). I'm quite ashamed at how little I know about an event that shaped my family so profoundly.