First evidence of continuous occupation of the area around prague praha, by. This is the starting point of a new collection of essays part in english and part in german entitled kafka, prague and the first world war edited by manfred engel and ritchie robertson, wurzburg 2012, to which we would like to. The history of the jews in prague capital of todays czech republic is one of central europes oldest and most wellknown. On the advice of czech friends i also read ivan klimas waiting for the dark, waiting for the light, a novel set in and around the velvet revolution of 1989. If you want to experience the prague that you see in photographs and read about in history books, the most notable sites will be located in the oldest historic neighborhood in the city, known as old town prague or stare mesto in czech. Kehilla, first mentioned by an mizrahijewish traveller ibrahim ibn yaqub in 965. Czech red cross marks centenary but history dates back even further. A history of prague an encyclopedia of world history.
But i have read a few books about prague, and i have listened to old men tell their stories. What are some of the best books written on czech history. Its hard to imagine prague will ever exceed the position of power it held in the 14th century, when the city for a time became the seat of what was known then as the holy roman empire, under emperor charles iv karel iv. Historical book collections national library of the czech republic. Interesting, prague only had one hussite king, jiri z podebrad. Date of the next clock change and exact time to spring forward or fall back. A beginners guide to old town prague visiting prague. Eighty years after his death in 1924, kafka remains one of the most intriguing figures in the history of world literature. Sep 21, 20 we turn therefore to his city, prague, a place that remains indissolubly connected to the spirit of kafka. The following is a timeline of the history of the city of prague, czech republic. I have never entered the catacombs under the city in search of artifacts.
Kafka, prague and the first world war world war i bridges. Prague had germanspeaking nearmajority in 1848, but by 1880 the german population decreased to. With the dissolution of the czechoslovak federation, the modern states of the czech republic. Prague history world war one end of empire during the course of world war i, the czechs became unified in their opposition to austrian rule. Despite the citys turbulent history, prague s progress in recent years has been more stately than revolutionary. If youre curious about prague s history, or why it is so beautiful, or why it has attracted so many young travelers, read it forward has pulled together a number of books that offer answers. Public transport became organized and the first electric tram made its appearance in 1891. I am sure that this will be an important and exciting guide for all who wish to learn more about the famous people and important events in the history of the czech lands and their capital ivan klima, the times. Henrik galeen who discovers a legendary golem paul wegener that was created by a prague rabbi in the 16th century. After reading any of these books, dont be surprised if visiting prague. The librarys main building is located in the historical clementinum building in the centre of prague, where approximately half of its books are kept.
It has a privileged location in central europe and has been a political, cultural, and economic hub since its foundation, making it today one of the top destinations in this part of the world. Prague in the shadow of the swastika remain through years the best book upon protectorate since his publishing. It is an intimate document of the often mundane and muddled lives of ordinary residents of prague whose lives. The union of the czech lands and slovakia was officially proclaimed in prague on nov. The period, which stretches between january and august of 1968, marks the birth of an important political liberalization era in the country, following many years of domination by the soviet union. Prague boasts one of europes oldest recorded jewish communities hebrew. Over the centuries, prague has served at various times as europes leading city. Jan neruda prague tales published in 1877 a collection of vignettes documenting life in 19th century pragues mala strana or little quarter, jan nerudas masterpiece has had a profound influence on the generations of czech writers who would come after him.
Prague is a reading city, just read about prague history, prague art, prague architecture and culture. In 1526, ferdinand i was elected king of bohemia, and from this point and up until 1918 pragues history would be connected to austria and the house of hapsburg. Best books set in prague score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. History of prague news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message. Prague history a story of bad times and good times. Prague historical fiction suggestions rick steves travel.
Paul wegener that was created by a prague rabbi in the 16th century. Ghetto clearance and the legacy of middleclass ethnic politics around 1900. During his lifetime, he published only a few short stories, including the metamorphosis, the judgment, and the stoker. For most of its history prague had been an ethnically mixed city with important czech, german, and jewish populations. Written between 1914 and 1915, during one of franz kafkas creative outbursts, the. Discover the significant events in the citys history. The front side covers the five quarters of the city center with unparalleled detail. Though the austrians are generally knocked in czech history books, it must be. The book, which collects the acts of an international symposium held in oxford in. Set in 17th century prague and especially the jewish community.
Window shoppers may be discouraged by the czech language volumes on display but venture inside and you. With stunning architecture, beautifully preserved historic carvings, mosaics, roman caverns, and great views from the top of the clock tower, this is a fabulous place. Historical events in 1915 on this day today in history. Kandel beautifully tells how the vienna school of medicine inspired pioneers in science, medicine, and art. Prague under the spotlight during first world war radio prague. From the prague spring to the velvet revolution, and from kafka to kundera, czech literature has always been a decidedly political affair, and the political and the literary have become inextricably intertwined in the streets of prague. Between history and dreams, offers an extraordinary journey into the different layers of the past and present. A personal story of remembrance and war, 19371948 madeleine albright, 2012. First evidence of continuous occupation of the area around prague praha, by various germanic and celtic tribes. Prague is the capital of the czech republic and the most important city in the bohemia region. With this startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first sentence, franz kafka begins his masterpiece, the metamorphosis. By the late 10th century prague was a thriving town. The streets of prague were a fantasia scarcely touched by the twentyfirst centuryor the twentieth or nineteenth, for that matter.
Prague in black and gold is an exceptional work and exceptionally reliable. The number of victims of the genocide which followed has been historically cited as 250,000, but more reliable sources claim no less than 460,000. He died in 1924, before completing any of more about franz kafka. Czech history books, page 1 of 2 sorted chronologically from early history to the present. Writer franz kafka was the eldest son of an upper middleclass jewish family who was born on july 3, 1883, in prague, the capital of bohemia, a kingdom that was a.
Now, after more than a decade of research, working with over four thousand pages of journal entries, letters, and literary fragments, reiner stach recreates the atmosphere in which kafka lived and. Traditionally, prague was called the golden city, city of a hundred spires and the heart of. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Czechoslovak history, history of the region comprising the historical lands of bohemia, moravia, and slovakia from prehistoric times through their federation, under the name czechoslovakia, during 191892.
Ensuing the second defenestration of prague, where the czechs defenestrated four regents sent by the habsburg family to prague, the thirty years war commenced, a conflict between. For history prior to 1918 as well as geographic and economic information, see bohemia. The boii called the region bohemia and the river vltava. Seven catholic councillors were unceremoniously tossed from pragues new town hall in the first of what would be many such acts over pragues history. The other half of the collection is stored in the district. It is the story of a young man who, transformed overnight into a giant beetlelike insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man. Learn about 287 famous, scandalous and important events that happened in 1915 or search by date or keyword. Jews may have arrived in prague in late roman times, but the first document mentioning them is a report by ibrahim ibn ya. The monument was unveiled in 1915, the 500th anniversary of his death. Prague by national geographic maps, other format barnes.
In prague, germans were hung headdown from lamp posts and set on fire as living torches in benes honor. Not fiction but richard burtons prague a cultural and literary history is very readable. One of the new books out marking the anniversary of the end of wwi is a. Most especially, austriahungarys alignment with germany and the restriction of democratic rights in the czech lands led to growing opposition to the monarchy here. The history of prague covers more than a thousand years, during which time the city grew from. In 1410, the famous astronomcal clock was installed in the clock tower on old town square, which is the oldest one in the world thats still working. Written by famous czech writer milan kundera, the novel is an intimate look into the lives of four people and a dog during a period of czechoslovak history known as prague spring. One of the celtic tribes, the boii, are the first prague inhabitants known by name. Battle of soissons ended after the germans launched a successful counterattack against the. Kovalys cleareyed memoir recounts a czechoslovakians fate under the nazis and then during the stalin regime.
Franz kafkas the trial ambiguous novel that asks deep metaphysical questions. On berlin i really like philip kerrs berlin noir trilogy, but they can be grim at points. A prague lovers reading list prague travel concierge. He is in good position on my shelves with a lot of german and czech books dealing with the subject. On the prague old town square you can find the jan hus memorial statue built in 1915, and jan hus day has even become a national holiday, held on july 6. A fascinating new book by prague writer, geologist, and philosopher vaclav cilek, called prague. Expertly researched, national geographics city destination map of prague is a unique combination of an easytoread road map with a travel guide. This overview of austrian history focuses on austrias political history in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Franz kafka was born in 1883 in prague, where he lived most of his life. Growing up behind the iron curtain peter sis, 2007. Well know for its rich history and historic city center, prague is one of the most visited cities in all of europe. We have compiled a selection of books that cover the history of prague and what is now the czech republic. It was a city of alchemists and dreamers, its medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies.
Best books set in prague score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. If you think about it this is a strange state of affairsprague, a city of 1. Daylight saving time changes 1915 in prague, czechia. To learn more about the czech republic past and present, check out some of these books and films. Some members of the premyslid dynasty embrace christianity brought to the czech lands by cyril. The city began to expand, and three new bridges were built between 1905 and 1914. Mar 06, 2015 the history learning site, 6 mar 2015. A czech history derek sayer the coasts of bohemia draws on an enormous array of literary, musical, visual, and documentary sources ranging from banknotes to statues, mus. The books on this page have topics than range from the early history of. Ruthenia was added by the treaty of trianon june, 1920. Prague in 1900 in 1900, prague was a rapidly expanding city industrialization brought with it an increase in the population, which rose to half a million inhabitants. Prague praha in czech is the capital and the biggest city of the czech republic prague has been one of the most beautiful european cities since the middle ages. I did not spend years in the library reading dusty books. Prague was part of the shortlived great moravian empire until the czechs finally broke away from it.
This is the first of a threevolume, definitive biography of franz kafka. With the dissolution of the czechoslovak federation, the modern states of the czech republic and slovakia came into being on jan. Often called the city of 100 towers, the rooftop of europe or the heart of europe, prague was a place where many merchants, artists and inventors met. The booming tourism sector and a solid industrial base have left its citizens in better economic shape than the rest of the country. Now, after more than a decade of research, working with over four thousand pages of journal entries, letters, and literary fragments, reiner stach recreates the atmosphere in which kafka lived and worked from 1910 to 1915. Around the 870s prince borivoj built the prague castle. List of books and articles about library history online. History of prague lonely planet travel information.
In 1915 the first and most famous of meyrinks novels, the golem, was. The slavs arrived in the czech republic in the 6th century. While i was there i really enjoyed prague a cultural and literary history by richard burton. A literary tour through pragues history share this article. If you want to experience the prague that you see in photographs and read about in history books. The authors czech and english historians have a fine knowlegde of this period. But it is a crime bookjust one where we never quite get to know what. Nonbohemical printed books kept in the collections continue the tradition of the jesuit college library and some private libraries e. Feel free to submit interesting articles, tell us about this cool book you just read, or start a discussion about who everyones favorite figure of minor french nobility is.