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Prague: The Heart of Europe
A sweeping and comprehensive history of Prague--from its origins in the ninth century to the present day--that traces its past as a political center and a city on the periphery of empires.
Poets have called Prague the City of One Hundred Spires, Golden Prague, Magic Prague, and the Mother of Cities. Millions of tourists visit the Czech capital each year, awed by the blend of architectural styles and the dramatic landscape. St. Vitus's Gothic cathedral towers above the Charles Bridge and the Vltava River. Winding Gothic alleys lead to elegant squares lined with Renaissance palaces, Baroque statues, and modern glass structures. Yet, the city's beauty often obscures centuries of ethnic and religious conflict. In Prague's Jewish Quarter, the names of nearly 80,000 Holocaust victims are inscribed on the walls of Pinkas Synagogue, which stands as a reminder of a complex and violent past.
Cynthia Paces traces the history of Prague since the late ninth century, when Slavic dukes built the first church and fortifications on the castle hill. Over the course of eleven centuries, Prague vacillated between a political center and a city on the periphery of empires. The Holy Roman Emperors Charles IV and Rudolph II transformed Prague into a European center of arts, politics, and pilgrimage, but centuries of religious conflict, the defenestrations of Prague, and the Thirty Years War threatened to destroy the city. In the twentieth century, Prague was hailed as a beacon of democracy, led by philosopher presidents T. G. Masaryk and Václav Havel, but its citizens also endured violent antisemitism, a Nazi occupation, and a repressive communist regime.
While illuminating a millennium of political, cultural, and social developments, The Heart of Europe captures the lives of the men and women who have called the city home. Prague has housed Europe's largest Jewish community, a diverse population of German and Czech speakers, and artisans from all over Europe. This sweeping book highlights the manifold contributions of Prague's artists, architects, musicians, and writers. In doing so, it reveals why the city captivated so many creative men and women, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonín Dvorák, Oskar Kokoschka, the poet Elizabeth Weston, and the alchemist John Dee. As Prague native Franz Kafka once wrote, "Prague does not let go; this little mother has claws."
Poets have called Prague the City of One Hundred Spires, Golden Prague, Magic Prague, and the Mother of Cities. Millions of tourists visit the Czech capital each year, awed by the blend of architectural styles and the dramatic landscape. St. Vitus's Gothic cathedral towers above the Charles Bridge and the Vltava River. Winding Gothic alleys lead to elegant squares lined with Renaissance palaces, Baroque statues, and modern glass structures. Yet, the city's beauty often obscures centuries of ethnic and religious conflict. In Prague's Jewish Quarter, the names of nearly 80,000 Holocaust victims are inscribed on the walls of Pinkas Synagogue, which stands as a reminder of a complex and violent past.
Cynthia Paces traces the history of Prague since the late ninth century, when Slavic dukes built the first church and fortifications on the castle hill. Over the course of eleven centuries, Prague vacillated between a political center and a city on the periphery of empires. The Holy Roman Emperors Charles IV and Rudolph II transformed Prague into a European center of arts, politics, and pilgrimage, but centuries of religious conflict, the defenestrations of Prague, and the Thirty Years War threatened to destroy the city. In the twentieth century, Prague was hailed as a beacon of democracy, led by philosopher presidents T. G. Masaryk and Václav Havel, but its citizens also endured violent antisemitism, a Nazi occupation, and a repressive communist regime.
While illuminating a millennium of political, cultural, and social developments, The Heart of Europe captures the lives of the men and women who have called the city home. Prague has housed Europe's largest Jewish community, a diverse population of German and Czech speakers, and artisans from all over Europe. This sweeping book highlights the manifold contributions of Prague's artists, architects, musicians, and writers. In doing so, it reveals why the city captivated so many creative men and women, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonín Dvorák, Oskar Kokoschka, the poet Elizabeth Weston, and the alchemist John Dee. As Prague native Franz Kafka once wrote, "Prague does not let go; this little mother has claws."
- GenresHistory
400 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
7 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 27, 2025
Mike. Whether you are a tourist going to Prague or interested in history, this book is a must read. Clearly written and excellently researched it gives you an insight into a city that has endured a history of greatness as well as tragedy. Cynthia Paces gives a masterful look into the city of a hundred spires. Her thorough depiction of Prague’s history and its culture may tempt you to see this magnificent city for yourself.
October 28, 2025
Carol — Cynthia Paces conveys the events of 11 centuries of Prague’s history in a clear and easy to understand writing style. Her knowledge of the subject matter will not only appeal to those interested in European history but also to those who are somewhat familiar with the Czech Republic’s capital—perhaps have traveled there or would like to visit one day. This work is a testament to the author’s grasp and love of history.
December 22, 2025
Prague: The Heart of Europe by Cynthia Paces is a sweeping, authoritative history of one of Europe’s most captivating cities. Tracing Prague’s story from its origins in the ninth century to the present day, Paces reveals a city shaped by empire, culture, conflict, and creativity. Beneath Prague’s famed architectural beauty lies a complex past marked by religious strife, ethnic tensions, political upheaval, and extraordinary cultural achievement.
What sets this book apart is its ability to balance grand historical scope with human detail. Paces skillfully situates Prague as both a political center and a city on the margins of empires, illuminating moments of transformation under figures such as Charles IV, Rudolf II, T. G. Masaryk, and Václav Havel. The book also honors the lives of the city’s diverse inhabitants Jewish communities, artisans, artists, and intellectuals showing how Prague became a crucible for creativity that inspired figures from Mozart and Dvořák to Kafka and John Dee.
What sets this book apart is its ability to balance grand historical scope with human detail. Paces skillfully situates Prague as both a political center and a city on the margins of empires, illuminating moments of transformation under figures such as Charles IV, Rudolf II, T. G. Masaryk, and Václav Havel. The book also honors the lives of the city’s diverse inhabitants Jewish communities, artisans, artists, and intellectuals showing how Prague became a crucible for creativity that inspired figures from Mozart and Dvořák to Kafka and John Dee.
January 9, 2026
Prague: The Heart of Europe is a sweeping, authoritative, and deeply humane history of one of Europe’s most complex cities. Cynthia Paces masterfully traces Prague’s evolution from its ninth century origins to the present day, revealing a city shaped as much by creativity and resilience as by conflict, conquest, and survival.
What makes this book exceptional is its ability to balance political history with lived experience. Paces does not allow Prague’s architectural beauty to obscure its darker chapters antisemitism, religious violence, occupation, and repression but instead integrates these realities into a nuanced portrait of a city continually negotiating its identity on the margins and at the center of empire. The attention to Prague’s Jewish history, cultural diversity, and artistic legacy gives the narrative emotional depth and intellectual richness. This is an essential work for readers interested in European history, urban studies, and the enduring power of place.
What makes this book exceptional is its ability to balance political history with lived experience. Paces does not allow Prague’s architectural beauty to obscure its darker chapters antisemitism, religious violence, occupation, and repression but instead integrates these realities into a nuanced portrait of a city continually negotiating its identity on the margins and at the center of empire. The attention to Prague’s Jewish history, cultural diversity, and artistic legacy gives the narrative emotional depth and intellectual richness. This is an essential work for readers interested in European history, urban studies, and the enduring power of place.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews