Prague: A Traveler's Literary Companion

Traveler's Literary Companion

by Paul Wilson (Editor), Katherine Silver (Editor)

Travel to one of the most beautiful cities in the world in the company of its finest writers. Walk the mysterious nighttime streets of Prague with Franz Kafka and Jaroslav Hasek, eavesdrop on intimate conversations in restaurants and lively beer halls with Karel Capek and Bohumil Hrabal, listen to jazz in stylish nightclubs with Josef Skvorecky. The stories in this volume — many of which appear in English for the first time — will take you on a personal odyssey through the city's stormy past to its dynamic present. For the traveler who wishes to experience something of its essence, Prague illuminates the heart and soul of a great city. Contributors include Michal Ajvaz, Karel Capek, Ivan Divis, Jaroslav Hasek, Daniela Hodrova, Bohumil Hrabal, Alois Jirasek, Franz Kafka, Jiri Karasek ze Lvovic, Egon Erwin Kisch, Ivan Klima, Jiri Kovtun, Frantisek Langer, Gustav Meyrink, Jan Neruda, Karel Pecka, Ota Pavel, Josef Skvorecky, Jindriska Smetanova, Jachym Topol, and Jiri Weil.

Genres: Travel, Fiction, Czech Literature

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

As a chosen catalyst for those who yearn for a more purposeful, passionate and prosperous life, Paul Wilson Jr. is deemed Chief Inspiration Officer. Wilson has been a medium for leadership, business and life development for over a decade and has consulted with several organizations including the national Football league (NFL). In addition to his latest book, Wilson has authored numerous blogs counting his own, Thrive B.I.G. and Biznovations.net. Wilson is also the founder and president of Biznovations, LLC which designs innovative strategies and solutions to equip individuals and organizations to maximize their social and financial profitability. "

Reviews

[William Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prague, as every traveler will tell you, is a wonderful town, full of surprises and visual delights. It is full of improbable and heart catching characters as well, as many Czech writers can introduce you to. Prague: A Traveller’s Literary Companion from Whereabouts Press provides a superb selection. In short readings you can go with Franz Kafka in late night companionship to the Charles Bridge in “Description of a Struggle, or watch on as Bohumil Hrabal‘s “ugly little man” finds himself as a beer waiter and a much sought after lover in the “Hotel Paříž” in the 1940s.

This is one of the strongest of the Whereabouts volumes I’ve read, though all of their fine list are must-carries when on the move. Of the 22 authors included, most will recognize only Kafka’s name, though a few will know Jaroslav Hašek as the author of the not famed enough anti-war novel, The Good Soldier Švejk. In a life lived almost exactly the years of Kafka’s, the two could not have had more opposite temperaments yet both were alive to creating characters caught in conditions not of their own making. His contribution, “A Psychiatric Mystery,” is a tickling account of such a man. Leaning over the Charles Bridge rail to locate the sound of a man he thinks is in trouble he is ‘rescued’ by a passer-by and the police from committing suicide, the reality of which is proven by the fierceness of his resistance to being rescued. - See more at: http://www.allinoneboat.org/#sthash.Z...

[Jsarno49 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive anthology of short stories which are organized according to sections of the city. My favorite retells folklore about The Charles Bridge, one of Prague's most famous landmarks. According to legend, "when things are at their worst in Bohemia", St. Wenceslas will come, ride over the bridge, and, using a famous sword that is hidden there, will defeat their enemies. In this story by Frantisek Langer, on Christmas Eve in 1939 the children of Prague find the mystical sword and decide that it is no longer safe on the Charles Bridge and that it is their's for safe keeping. As Langer writes, "No longer will we walk across the bridge and say,'Somewhere here lies out hope and our salvation when things are at their worst.' But whenever we meet a Czech child we will say, 'This is where it is.'" While not all the stories are as uplifting as this one, the collection does give the reader insights into the city.

[Richard Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sprightly little book; brought back memories of the city.

[Tuur Decaluwe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoals elke verhalenbundel onderhevig aan pieken en dalen, met als dalen opvallend vaak de vertalingen van de samensteller zelf

[Eva Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of short stories about Prague throughout the ages. Except for the Kafka one which managed to be confusing and depressing: not sure what happened but it was pretty bleak whatever went down. Lots of other voices. Too few of them female though; lots of machismo. My favorites were the disillusionment of the Jewish communist and his family, the seediness after the velvet revolution, the erotic story, and the spooky golem story.

[Sherry Stouffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting reading ahead of a trip to Prague.

[Argel Landeros · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good selection of Czech literature from today and the past. A very good image of the city and the people of Prague…
A must…!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes from 1998:
Various authors

There are many stories about Prague: legends, tales and folklore. Most take place in other eras - before the communists, many centuries ago. A few are modern post-communist.

One tale of the Old Town Clock - the government poked the clock maker's eyes out in fear that he would make a better clock elsewhere. A year later, on his deathbed, he went into the clock and disabled it so it wouldn't function properly. It took a few hundred years to repair it.

A myth about a sword hidden under a stone in the Charles Bridge. It would come out to defeat the enemy when needed. Very hard times came and no sword. One day Germans had invaded, there was nothing they could do. The sword appeared in front of a group of children. Approached by a solider they hid it in their coats. From then on it was passed on from child to child for safekeeping.

and many others. very good book.
Organized by areas in Prague.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by Czech authors past and present and grouped according to various districts of the city. Some good ones, but nothing really outstanding. However, they do evoke a sense of place and sometimes history, which is really the whole point. Good to read during and/or after a visit.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend studying in Prague for the year very kindly lent me her copy of this book for my week-long stay in Prague, and I'm glad I read it here, because I wouldn't have enjoyed it in any other city. I think it takes a particular person to enjoy these stories. If you look Kafka and weird stuff like that, I say you should go for it. Otherwise, most of it will probably go over your head.

[Paul Servini · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories all based in the city of Prague. It was thrilling to read the stories while, or just after, actually walking streets being described in them. The ideal travel companion. The stories themselves are a mixed bunch with some more interesting than others.

[Evija Priekule · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved some of these stories.