Verklärte Nacht

by Libuše Moníková

Nach zwanzig Jahren kehrt Leonora Marty zurück nach Prag, in die Stadt ihrer Kindheit. Auf ihren Streifzügen sucht sie die Stadt, die sie verlassen hat, und findet sie in dem umtriebigen Klima nach 89 nicht wieder. Eine Chronik der Ereignisse seit der samtenen Revolution im November 1989 bis zu den letzten Tagen der Tschechoslowakei im Dezember 1992, ein politischer Stadtführer durch Prag und nicht zuletzt eine Liebesgeschichte, begleitet von der Musik Janáceks und Schönbergs.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Czech Literature

148 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Libuše Moníková was a Czech author, publishing in in the German language. In 1968, following the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, she left for Western Germany. She died in Berlin.

Reviews

[Eleanor Wilderspin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels utterly special.
A privilege to read.
Read it having just returned from a Prague trip (where I bought it) and loved re-walking its streets with Leonora.

[Wendelle]

A Czech expat, leader of a prestigious dance troupe and star of some play adaptations and a PhD credentialed lecturer in German universities to boot, returns to survey and contemplate her beloved city of Prague that has changed with time in conjunction with the changes in her life. She thinks back to her childhood in the Soviet era when she, along with all members of society, had to participate in gymnastics drills. Then she leaves, for independence, leaving behind a potential lover. Prague itself first saw the Soviets in their charge as liberators, later as occupiers to drive out. The country changed out of communism, but in the narrator's viewpoint its values changed too. Restaurants became expensive tourist traps catering only to Westerners with subpar instant meals, pensioners suffer waiting for financial support or renumeration, while previous thugs and cheaters prosper. Germans were expelled from the country, Slovaks are agitating for their own country. This is a fine novella to witness in one quick view, the soul of a changing nation.

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how it felt like visiting Prague all over again but with History elements in it. Also the love story was integrated so well into the Historical parts and the return of the protagonist.

[Lisen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this in a cute little bookstore in Prague so reading it was also just... experiencing Prague all over again which was really nice. It's not a favorite book, and it's really quite strange and it pulls in all directions and goes off on tangents but I still enjoyed reading it.

There's also a whole exploration of Leni Riefenstahl which made me feel very educated when my professor brought it up later in a whole other context

[Neo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and blending the line between reality, history and fiction, Transfigured Night takes us on a nightwalk through the streets of Prague.