Prague Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay) [Hardcover]

J. M. Lau (Author)

Book Description

Series: Then & Now Thunder Bay | Publication Date: February 8, 2007

Since the early Middle Ages, Prague has been considered one of Europe's most beautiful cities with its hundreds of spires reaching into the sky. Despite a history filled with violent upheavals and bitter occupations, Prague remains a vibrant city known for its world-famous architecture, culture, historic monuments, and natural beauty.
Experience the magnificent beauty and often-tragic history of this 'Golden City' through seventy pairs of remarkable photographs.
Stand atop Prague's most familiar monument, the Charles Bridge (completed in 1400), for a magnificent vista of the city; a fascinating inset photo illustrates the destruction of the bridge after a flood in 1890.
Visit Golden Lane, home to the city's goldsmiths in the 17th century and later to author Franz Kafka.
Marvel at then-and-now images of treasures like St. Vitus' Cathedral (it's first stone was laid in 1344 by Emperor Charles IV!) and St. George's Basilica (founded in the 10th century).
Today, Prague is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. This is a tour you won't want to miss!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press (February 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592236561
• ISBN-13: 978-1592236565
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > History > Europe > Slovakia
  • #67 in Books > Travel > Europe > Czech Republic
  • #79 in Books > History > Europe > Czech Republic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a real gem, July 30, 2008

By 

FM breakdown "cat-waxer" (Prague) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prague Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay) (Hardcover)

As a resident of Prague for many years, this book won me over as a rare find, especially for non-Czech speakers. The writer has obviously invested quite a lot of research, and the text is a pleasure to read: informative and interesting, combining insights of social and political transformations with a keen appreciation for architectural details. The well-selected images cover a wide span of the city, from the much-touted tourist favorites to equally significant sites off the beaten track. I found myself looking with renewed interest upon places I had passed often and typically taken for granted in this city of wonders. Whether you are a long-time resident or first time visitor, this book will be an invaluable guide to revealing one of Europe's most fascinating capitals through an informed historical perspective.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the greatest place on earth, June 4, 2008

By 

Mr "80schildalways" (australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prague Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay) (Hardcover)

I cannot tell you how happy i was after looking through this book. I have been to Prague and loved it. This book made me fall in love with it all over again. The photoes are excellent and the text is informative with being over the top. I cannot recommend this enough to people that have been here and i cant tell you (if you have never been to Prague) how much you will want to go after reading this book.
Everyone says how great this place is and I can assure you, no matter how much they build it up, it will not dissappoint.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars portrait of a city, February 5, 2009

By 

sendroverrightover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prague Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay) (Hardcover)

This book paints an intriguing then-and-now portrait of Prague, focusing on the evolution, or devolution, of the city's main historic sites. Each spread has a "then" image on the left and the "now" image on the right. The old black-and-white historical photographs, in particular, are fascinating and beautiful. I've taken several historical walking tours of Prague and am happy to say doing a DIY tour, using this book, is by far the most rewarding and engaging method. My friends and I spent several days walking around the city with this book. It's a hardback and a bit large compared to your typical guidebook, but it fits easily into a standard size backpack and if you're willing to carry the extra weight, it's worth it. Being able to look at historic photos of different sites throughout the city, as we were actually standing directly in front of them, lent excellent historical perspective. The text is very informative and well-written, discussing the origins of the building and its current uses. Overall, this book captures Prague's beauty and gives a good sense of the its evolution over the past centuries. And it makes a good coffee-table book too.