Ivan Klima's story begins in the 1930s, in the Terezin concentration camp outside of Prague, where he was forced to spend almost four years of his childhood. He reveals how the postwar atmosphere supported and encouraged the spread of communist principles over the next few decades and how an informal movement to change the system developed inside the Party. These political events form the backdrop to Klima's personal experiences, encapsulating a remarkable life largely lived under occupation."
Featuring essays by Myla Goldberg, Helen Epstein, Jan Morris, and Francine Prose, "Travelers' Tales Prague" collects over 20 stories from the city that inspired compositions from Mozart and novels from Kafka. The pieces in this book are both a charming enticement for prospective travelers and a welcome companion for those already there.
A visionary work of science fiction that introduced the word "robot" Written in 1920, premiered in Prague in 1921, and first performed in New York in 1922—garnered worldwide acclaim for its author and popularized the word robot. Mass-produced as efficient laborers to serve man, Capek’s Robots are an android product—they remember everything but think of nothing new. But the Utopian life they provide ultimately lacks meaning, and the humans they serve stop reproducing. When the Robots revolt, killing all but one of their masters, they must strain to learn the secret of self-duplication. It is not until two Robots fall in love and are christened “Adam” and “Eve” by the last surviving human that Nature emerges triumphant. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
This is a collection of Neruda's funny, wry, biter-sweet and illuminating stories about life for the inhabitants of the Old Quarter of 19th-century Prague.
And although originally written in Czech, the book was commissioned by Catbird Press and was therefore written with foreign readers in mind; in other words, no prior knowledge of Capek's writings or his milieu is required."--BOOK JACKET.
Telling the story of Kristyna, a 45-year-old dentist and her unruly 16-year-old daughter, No Saints or Angels is set in contemporary Prague. It spans three generations, taking in the World War II, Communist and post-Communist times.
"Kristyna, a dentist, lives in Prague with her unruly teenage daughter, Jana. Born on one of the most momentous days of the last century - the day Stalin died - Kristyna's life seems full of uncertainties. Stories of the death of her grandmother and aunt; memories of her difficult relationship with her late father, a member of the Communist Party's feared Peoples Militia; and strange, threatening letters from an anonymous correspondent all serve to compound her sense of unease." "During the summer of 1998 she embarks on a relationship with Jan, a thirty-year old former student of her ex-husband's. Jan's father, a scout-leader, was persecuted by the Communists during the 1950s; his son is now employed by the government to investigate the crimes of the post-war regime. However, not all are happy with his department's discoveries and they come under growing pressure from the government to disband. Meanwhile, Jana's increasingly erratic behaviour betrays her growing addiction to drugs and her mother is forced to take drastic action in an attempt to change the course of her life."--Jacket
Exploring the complexities of love and the quest for freedom, the stories in this collection feature diverse characters, from factory workers to a divorce-court judge, each navigating their desires and realities. Set against the backdrop of Czech society from the 1960s to today, these narratives reveal the poignant struggles of individuals seeking escape and connection in their lives. Ivan Klima's insightful storytelling captures both personal and national evolution, offering a profound reflection on the nature of love and longing.
Drawn from the collections, "Lovers for a Day" and "Intimate Conversations", the stories in this book span the author's career and form a personal history of Prague. Dreams and frustrations of the student cafeteria in the 1960s evolve into portraits of young people struggling with responsibility.
