The New York Times Book Review, Larry Wolff
Peter Demetz, an emeritus professor of German and comparative literature at Yale, who left Prague as a young man in 1949, has written a book about his native city in an attempt to fathom the full complexity of the cultural forces at play during the last millennium, from erotic passions to linguistic alienations.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Readers who have visited Prague, one of the most gorgeous cities in Europe, may wish now, after having combed travel guides before their trip, to follow up with some reading on Prague's history; but unless they are serious about learning the subject, this book is best left alone. On the other hand, readers other than casual ones will find the development of Prague absorbingly chronicled here. This "history of a European city built over many centuries by Czechs, Germans, Jews, and Italians" presents both essential and colorful detail of the evolution of the kingdom of Bohemia, from mythical origins to Austrian domination to the post^-World War I flowering of independence and democracy. Demetz writes of such interesting personalities as King Charles IV, who put Prague on the map; Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, odd and fascinating; Jan Hus, religious reformer; and Thomas Masaryk, internationally esteemed president of the first Czech republic. Of course, history buffs who have never been to Prague will still relish what is offered here.
Brad Hooper
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews