Prague Stories

by Richard Bassett (Editor)

A gorgeously jacketed hardcover anthology of stories set in Prague, by an international array of brilliant writers.

The Golden City of Prague has long been an intellectual center of the western world. The writers collected here range from the early nineteenth century to the present and include both Prague natives and visitors from elsewhere. Here are stories, legends, and scenes from the city's past and present, from the Jewish fable of the golem, a creature conjured from clay, to tales of German and Soviet invasions. The international array of writers ranges from Franz Kafka to Ivan Klíma to Bruce Chatwin, and includes the award-winning British playwright Tom Stoppard and former American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, both of whom have Czech roots. Covering the city's venerable Jewish heritage, the glamour of the belle-époque period, World War II, Communist rule, the Prague Spring, the Velvet Revolution, and beyond, Prague Stories weaves a remarkable selection of fiction and nonfiction into a literary portrait of a fascinating city.

Genres: Travel, Short Stories, Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[Richard Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little odd. It is a selection of fiction and non-fiction pieces around a general topic of Prague. The balance is more towards the non-fiction, and the combination at times jars. Most of the non-fiction pieces are serious, which makes the occasional, rather short pieces of fiction, seem ill chosen. In many cases the link to Prague is rather tenuous. For example the piece Appeasement: 'Peace without honour on the shameful treatment of Czechoslovakia by the British and French governments before WW2 is interesting, but is really about Czech and international history more than about Prague specifically. Mostly, the pieces are extracts from longer books. One or two -such as the part of Mendelssohn on the Roof have made me want to go and read the whole book. But unfortunately these bits were too few for me, and many parts were really rather dull.

Having said all this, I feel a little more knowledgeable about Czech history which is no bad thing as it was a bit of a weak spot for me, and this knowledge has made me upgrade my temptation for 2 stars to 3, but only just. Harsh? Well, if you have a real interest in Prague I suspect there are better more information reads, and if you do not, I'd suggest there are very many more entertaining or interesting books than this one. So it does not really suit either the deeply interested reader, or the person with a passing interest either.

I picked it up on a whim during a tour of a bookshop a few months ago and have only just go around to reading it. It is from the Everyman Pocket Classics library - and those are always attractive as nicely produced editions, at good prices. So I'll give it that - a nice book to look at and handle at least!

[Meyte Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like a history lesson reading through this. However there were some sweet spots like student life in belle epoque Prague, description of a struggle and Mendelssohn is on the roof. But almost all were hardly enjoyable

[Aimee Knupsky (bookchantment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly nonfiction essays and historical excerpts. Not many fiction short stories like other volumes in this series.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected Prague Stories to be written by famous, highly entertaining local humorists, satirists like Jaroslav Hasek, Bohumil Hrabal etc. A better title for this book would have been *Prague Histories*. DNF.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting peek into the history of Prague and Czechia, as told through essays and a few excerpts from fictional pieces. Great background reading for an upcoming visit.

[Kaitlyn Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

love reading these before going somewhere, they need to expand to more cities imo

[Tollula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely stories about the history and life in Prague through the ages as written by prolific writers.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have Czech heritage therefore this was a must read! Some of the essays and memoirs were excellent. Other pieces were almost fragments excerpts of larger works; those essays and stories varied in quality. I almost gave it 3 stars but anything Czech deserves an extra star!!