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Puppets of Prague: Gripping 20th Century Historical Fiction
Can the dream of freedom overcome fear and oppression? Friendships, marriages and loyalties are tested to the limit in this novel which spans Prague’s tumultuous twentieth century .
In the summer of 1914 young love beckons and the future seems bright for three friends as they reach adulthood, but dark clouds are gathering and momentous events throw into stark relief the differences between them that had never mattered before.
From WW1 and the heady days of liberty which follow, to the Nazi occupation of WW2 and afterwards Communist dictatorship, life threatening risks must be taken and families are torn apart by the choices they make. Conflict and hardship will bring out both the good and the bad, and in unexpected ways.
A moving story set in one of the world’s most enchanting and fascinating cities.
In the summer of 1914 young love beckons and the future seems bright for three friends as they reach adulthood, but dark clouds are gathering and momentous events throw into stark relief the differences between them that had never mattered before.
From WW1 and the heady days of liberty which follow, to the Nazi occupation of WW2 and afterwards Communist dictatorship, life threatening risks must be taken and families are torn apart by the choices they make. Conflict and hardship will bring out both the good and the bad, and in unexpected ways.
A moving story set in one of the world’s most enchanting and fascinating cities.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2021
180 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
David Canford
20 books43 followersWriting historical fiction, David Canford is able to combine his love of history and travel in novels that take readers on a rollercoaster journey through time and place with characters who face struggle and hardship but where resilience, love and forgiveness can overcome hatred and oppression.
He has also written two novels about the future, and a travelogue.
David has three grown up daughters and lives on the south coast of England with his wife and their dog.
For news about new releases and more visit www.davidcanford.com or visit him on Facebook or Instagram.
He has also written two novels about the future, and a travelogue.
David has three grown up daughters and lives on the south coast of England with his wife and their dog.
For news about new releases and more visit www.davidcanford.com or visit him on Facebook or Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 29, 2021
Emotional Historic Fiction at its Best
This book was not only historically correct but extremely emotional. It followed the life of a teenager through to his death at the age of 93. From 1914 when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, until 1993 when Prague became the capital city of the new Czech Republic, his family and many others suffered at the hands of the socialist and communist government. Many lives were lost and loyalties were questioned. A very moving story that I highly recommend.
his death at the age of 93.
This book was not only historically correct but extremely emotional. It followed the life of a teenager through to his death at the age of 93. From 1914 when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, until 1993 when Prague became the capital city of the new Czech Republic, his family and many others suffered at the hands of the socialist and communist government. Many lives were lost and loyalties were questioned. A very moving story that I highly recommend.
his death at the age of 93.
September 16, 2022
Very Informative
As a lover of historical fiction, this book was not a disappointment. This well researched novel tells the history of Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. The characters are well-developed and genuine.
The story is full of family, friendship, love, fear, disappointment, courage, sacrifice and evil. It teaches the reader to value freedom and fear communism.
As a lover of historical fiction, this book was not a disappointment. This well researched novel tells the history of Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. The characters are well-developed and genuine.
The story is full of family, friendship, love, fear, disappointment, courage, sacrifice and evil. It teaches the reader to value freedom and fear communism.
February 14, 2022
Terrific history, characters and story
August 31, 2025
This actually flashed up on my phone when I was in Prague AND visiting Terezin this summer...tell me our phones aren't watching us!!! So who can resist a free audiobook on a city and place you'd just spent time visiting? Interesting audiobook being read by virtual voice recognition, a computer-generated narration..a first for me, but it worked. I enjoyed the HF aspects of this book, especially the timeline from pre-WWII to post WWII and communist Czechoslavakia to the present day Czech Republic. What a mess we made of things post WWII in giving such power to Russia and letting them control the Eastern part of Europe...my own father was a German POW during WWII whose camp was "liberated" by the Russians 3 days after they liberated Auschwitz; he was "held captive" by the Russians for an additional 4 months before being released to the Americans. When he finally returned home, he told my grandparents, "the Russians will be our enemies someday soon: they eat their own." How right you were, Daddy, how right you were...
March 20, 2022
puppets of Prague
This was an Excellent historical story! I Couldn’t put this book down! Wonderful writing and I will look for other books written by David Canford! Thank you!
This was an Excellent historical story! I Couldn’t put this book down! Wonderful writing and I will look for other books written by David Canford! Thank you!
January 7, 2022
Great history
What a wonderful story. I learned a lot of history. This book made it come to life. There's happiness and sadness.
What a wonderful story. I learned a lot of history. This book made it come to life. There's happiness and sadness.
October 23, 2021
Relevant
As I read this gripping (yes, gripping) novel, I couldn't help but recognize it's relevance in today's America. So much so, it frightened me at how easy it is to lose our freedoms and how quickly young people who have no real knowledge of our struggles to keep our freedom can be brainwashed. This book needs to be required reading in schools, but, alas, in the America we now live in this would be suppressed by incorrect fact checks.
As I read this gripping (yes, gripping) novel, I couldn't help but recognize it's relevance in today's America. So much so, it frightened me at how easy it is to lose our freedoms and how quickly young people who have no real knowledge of our struggles to keep our freedom can be brainwashed. This book needs to be required reading in schools, but, alas, in the America we now live in this would be suppressed by incorrect fact checks.
October 6, 2021
Awful
Book looks like he read some history accounts and crammed all of it into a book. As one who actually lived this story I found the book offensive for its lack of effort. He certainly is not a writer
Book looks like he read some history accounts and crammed all of it into a book. As one who actually lived this story I found the book offensive for its lack of effort. He certainly is not a writer
February 18, 2022
This novel spoke to me
Puppets of Prague could have also been titled Puppets of Budapest and would have had a similar plot. I grew up in Hungary under communism, and as both Hungary and Czechoslovakia were previously part of the Astro-Hungarian empire under the Hapsburgs, the two countries had very similar histories. My mother was born in Prague during the First World War. With all this background I was very much interested in reading this novel. I was somewhat disappointed in the writing, often I felt it was a Reader’s Digest version of events. The author often abandoned sub plots or just skipped over them superficially. I was going to give 3 stars for the writing but I rounded it up,to four stars for the effort to summarize nearly 100 years of history of a country in 323 pages. I do recommend the book to those who are interested in some European history.
Puppets of Prague could have also been titled Puppets of Budapest and would have had a similar plot. I grew up in Hungary under communism, and as both Hungary and Czechoslovakia were previously part of the Astro-Hungarian empire under the Hapsburgs, the two countries had very similar histories. My mother was born in Prague during the First World War. With all this background I was very much interested in reading this novel. I was somewhat disappointed in the writing, often I felt it was a Reader’s Digest version of events. The author often abandoned sub plots or just skipped over them superficially. I was going to give 3 stars for the writing but I rounded it up,to four stars for the effort to summarize nearly 100 years of history of a country in 323 pages. I do recommend the book to those who are interested in some European history.
June 27, 2022
A story of a young czech boy's life from 1914 until 1993. The geographical situation and size of czechoslovakia meant that it was often under the control of other nations at one time or another, the czech people being "puppets"of other nations politics and ideologies. It is about the national identity and a desire for self determination of your own country. Goes through WW1 through WW2 up to modern times with Czechoslovakia being controlled by austro hungarian empire, nazi germany and communists in turn.
I enjoyed the writing, the descriptions of Prague were wonderful and I have always wanted to go there. The nationalism in the culture was a big thread particularly with the mentions of Dvorak and smetana who were Czech nationalist composers, smetana writing a series of 6 symphonic poems about his country "ma vast" (which I have actually listened to many times and studied in music lessons in school in relation to the nationalism composers of the 19th century).
For those who enjoy learning about history and multi generational family stories this is a must read. The czech people continued to fight for their own country through many rough times, eventually, after much bloodshed and lost family and friendships, either through death or different ideologies, achieving independence, self determination and no longer "puppets" to others. Obviously very emotional at times given the subject matter.
I enjoyed the writing, the descriptions of Prague were wonderful and I have always wanted to go there. The nationalism in the culture was a big thread particularly with the mentions of Dvorak and smetana who were Czech nationalist composers, smetana writing a series of 6 symphonic poems about his country "ma vast" (which I have actually listened to many times and studied in music lessons in school in relation to the nationalism composers of the 19th century).
For those who enjoy learning about history and multi generational family stories this is a must read. The czech people continued to fight for their own country through many rough times, eventually, after much bloodshed and lost family and friendships, either through death or different ideologies, achieving independence, self determination and no longer "puppets" to others. Obviously very emotional at times given the subject matter.
January 12, 2024
This was a story spanning almost 80 years, of 3 young men in Prague but mainly that of Stefan, who goes off to fight in WW1, ending with him in 1993 as an old man. The author certainly did a ton of research on the history of Czechoslovakia and that is actually what I feel was also the downfall of this book, trying to cover too much time without much depth. I would have much preferred it if he had only focused on one part and delved into it deeper. Instead there were too many characters, too many events, and too little connection to anyone or anything. I found I didn’t really care about any person or event, because the story would too soon shift to another person or event. I did finish it with the help of skimming along to get to the end. I’ve had this book on my kindle for a long time so I am happy to be able to finally mark it as “Read.”
March 28, 2022
A very interesting historical novel
Knowing very little of Czechoslovak I was fascinated about the history and the story line has made me look further into it’s history. The characters ate very believable a sad story but I couldn’t put it down
Knowing very little of Czechoslovak I was fascinated about the history and the story line has made me look further into it’s history. The characters ate very believable a sad story but I couldn’t put it down
May 13, 2025
On my top 10 of all time! First world war one historical fiction that I have read ( read alot of world war two historical fiction). In this book, the lives of the characters are interwoven over the course their lives. From friends to foes.Forgiveness and struggles. A great book. Highly recommend!
July 1, 2025
there was potential here, great historical period, but unfortunately the characters were very 2-dimentional, very little emotional drive to the book. told in a very 'factual' way that felt bland and almost empty.
August 14, 2021
Although this book was fictional, it offered great insight into the 20th century history of Czechoslovakia. It truly brought the human experience to life.
March 1, 2022
I read this in one day…10 hours in the car. The book gave a great account of what it was like living in Prague from 1914 to 1990.
May 19, 2024
puppets of Prague
Pretty good, but too slow at the beginning,I almost quit reading it.but I kept on going and towards end it came alive
Pretty good, but too slow at the beginning,I almost quit reading it.but I kept on going and towards end it came alive
July 30, 2024
Not a gripping tale. 320 pages covered 80 years - not much story telling - just recounting events. Major life moments covered in one paragraph.
October 14, 2025
Author's fictional characters dramatize the tragic history of how the world wars affected Prague/CZ.
March 10, 2024
This book was odd.
The writing is... not good. It reads almost like a whole novel in bullet points.
But the story follows an individual through all of Czechia's 20th century history, which is fascinating. So overall I still enjoyed reading it.
The writing is... not good. It reads almost like a whole novel in bullet points.
But the story follows an individual through all of Czechia's 20th century history, which is fascinating. So overall I still enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews