Good books about Prague?
August 10, 2010 11:48 AM Subscribe
I'm heading to Prague for a few weeks and would like to know more about the history and culture there. Can anyone suggest good books (including historical fiction/novels)?
Most of what I already know is from music history. I'd love to know more about the art and architecture, but am open to learning about any other aspect of Prague that you think a first-time visitor should know.
Most of what I already know is from music history. I'd love to know more about the art and architecture, but am open to learning about any other aspect of Prague that you think a first-time visitor should know.
I really liked The Bartimaeus Trilogy. A good deal of the second book in the series, The Golem's Eye, is set in Prague. Also, take a look at this list of books set in Prague. I personally love everything by Milan Kundera and Kafka on the list. The Rosenberg book is a good one too.
posted by bearwife at 12:02 PM on August 10, 2010
posted by bearwife at 12:02 PM on August 10, 2010
Prague is not anymore what it used to be. Very touristic. But seconding bearwifes post. A good time to read some Kafka. Also, try the grilled cheese in an authentic restaurant.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:23 PM on August 10, 2010
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:23 PM on August 10, 2010
Prague: A Cultural and Literary History by Richard D.E. Burton is a good overview--I read it on the plane before my first trip to the city, and it helped fill in contextual/cultural gaps throughout my visit. I also like Myla Goldberg's Time's Magpie: A Walk in Prague, a foreigner-living-in-the-city travelogue.
posted by 2or3things at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by 2or3things at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
"The Good Soldier Svejk" is kind of the seminal Czech work. I also really, really love (besides Kafka and Kundera, already mentioned) Bohumil Hrabal, and highly recommend him.
posted by millipede at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2010
posted by millipede at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2010
If you're a Dr. Who fan, you might like the Short Trips: Destination Prague collection from Big Finish. It's available direct from Big Finish or from Amazon.
posted by BZArcher at 1:17 PM on August 10, 2010
posted by BZArcher at 1:17 PM on August 10, 2010
There's lots of good stuff about Prague; it's a great city for the literarily and historically minded. Besides the above:
Prague: A Travelers Literary Companion (Vol. 1, Vol. 2)
Prague in Black and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City, by Peter Demetz
Prague Tales, by Jan Neruda (after whom Pablo named himself)
Read stuff by Vitezslav Nezval, Gustav Meyrink, Bohumil Hrabal, Josef Škvorecký, Ivan Klíma... well, there are a lot of good Czech writers who celebrated Prague. Which is an incredible city you'll want to spend more time in, however long you stay—don't listen to anyone who tells you it's "not what it used to be," that's the kind of crap people always try to discourage other people with. It's been not being what it used to be for its entire history, like any great city, and in its case that's a thousand years or more. Enjoy, and be sure to drink plenty of beer!
posted by languagehat at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
Prague: A Travelers Literary Companion (Vol. 1, Vol. 2)
Prague in Black and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City, by Peter Demetz
Prague Tales, by Jan Neruda (after whom Pablo named himself)
Read stuff by Vitezslav Nezval, Gustav Meyrink, Bohumil Hrabal, Josef Škvorecký, Ivan Klíma... well, there are a lot of good Czech writers who celebrated Prague. Which is an incredible city you'll want to spend more time in, however long you stay—don't listen to anyone who tells you it's "not what it used to be," that's the kind of crap people always try to discourage other people with. It's been not being what it used to be for its entire history, like any great city, and in its case that's a thousand years or more. Enjoy, and be sure to drink plenty of beer!
posted by languagehat at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
How did I forget The Golem?
I liked Kundera's books up to and including Immortality. It was a long time ago, but I remember being unimpressed with anything that came after that--and I think TULOB was the only one of his novels that was really Prague-specific (instead of just-happened-to-be-set-in-Prague). If you're going to read his novels, save Immortality for last (or at least after TULOB).
You could also read something by, or a biography of, Václav Havel--although I cannot suggest something specific at this moment.
posted by K.P. at 5:39 PM on August 10, 2010
I liked Kundera's books up to and including Immortality. It was a long time ago, but I remember being unimpressed with anything that came after that--and I think TULOB was the only one of his novels that was really Prague-specific (instead of just-happened-to-be-set-in-Prague). If you're going to read his novels, save Immortality for last (or at least after TULOB).
You could also read something by, or a biography of, Václav Havel--although I cannot suggest something specific at this moment.
posted by K.P. at 5:39 PM on August 10, 2010
A lot of the literary pieces mentioned above are good. If you are feeling slightly more academic, you may be interested in Scott Spector's Prague Territories: National Conflict and Cultural Innovation in Franz Kafka's Fin de Siècle or Prague in Black: Nazi Rule and Czech Nationalism by Chad Bryant.
posted by dhens at 12:18 AM on August 11, 2010
posted by dhens at 12:18 AM on August 11, 2010
Seconding the Karel Čapek recommenation. Highly underrated author - funny and wise. He was a big influence on Kurt Vonnegut.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:21 PM on August 12, 2010
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:21 PM on August 12, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you, everyone! These have been really useful, both in the titles listed and other books that they've led to. I'm not traveling for another year, so I should have time to actually read most of these.
posted by coolguymichael at 4:34 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by coolguymichael at 4:34 PM on August 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by K.P. at 11:58 AM on August 10, 2010 [4 favorites]