Prague : belonging in the modern city

More about the book

This poignant reflection on alienation and belonging explores the lives of five remarkable individuals who faced nationalism and intolerance in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. For many in Prague, belonging is tied to the nation, represented by its grand medieval architecture and monuments celebrating a shared history. However, not all residents felt included in the narrative of national belonging. Socialists, dissidents, Jews, Germans, and Vietnamese have faced hatred and persecution in their own city. The author shares the stories of five marginalized figures over the past two centuries who crafted their own definitions of belonging. They include an aspiring guidebook writer, a German-speaking newspaperman, a Bolshevik carpenter, a mixed-heritage actress who experienced Communist terror, and a Czech-speaking Vietnamese blogger. Although not famous, their lives reveal the tensions between exclusionary nationalism and the diversity present in everyday life. Through their struggles against alienation, they created alternative communities in cafes, workplaces, and online. As they navigate the city—strolling through parks, participating in political marches, or documenting their experiences—these outsiders embody a city designed for others. This powerful meditation on place, nation, individual, and community envisions how cohesion and difference can coexist, addressing a universal need for belonging.