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If you're like me, you enjoy not only traveling but also reading about the places you'd like to visit (either before, during or after your trip), and in some cases when you don't even visit at all!. So, as the Holiday Season approaches, I've put together a list of some great reads on Prague for the traveler on your Christmas or Hanukkah list!
Found at a Bookstore in Prague
I recently stopped by Shakespeare & Sons English language bookshop in Prague. Nestled near the Charles Bridge in the Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter), it is one of my favorite bookshops in town. I saw some familiar titles and a few new ones. I did a bit of research, and they all seem worth your time:
1. Prague Stories
Published just over two years ago, Prague Stories is a rich collection of both fiction and non-fiction stories about Prague by local and international authors. In this carefully curated collection, Franz Kafka, Ivan Klima and Madeleine Albright (among others) appear.
2. Prague Winter
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Albright's own Prague Winter is another title I recommend. Born in Prague the daughter of a diplomat, she spent the war (WWII) years in England. After the communist takeover of former Czechoslovakia, she and her family emigrated to the U.S., where she eventually became Secretary of State. It was at the time of her appointment to that position that she discovered her Jewish heritage. This is a very interesting read.
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3. Czech Cookbook: Recipes and Stories, Volume I
If you like to cook - or even if you're just interested in Czech food - I highly recommend that you check out Kristyna Koutna's wonderful book, called simply, Czech Cookbook. Kristyna knows everything about Czech food, and she's made it all, and her book is filled with wonderful photos of dozens of dishes. And the best part is: It's made for English-speaking cooks and includes both imperial and metric measurements.
4. Czech cookbook: Christmas Baking
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And since it's the Holidays... you might like to know that Kristyna Koutna has also published a cookbook focused on Czech Christmas baking. It's available in Kindle format only, but Czech Christmas cookies are a delicious tradition, so it might be worth taking a look at this book!
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5. Einstein in Bohemia
Having come out earlier this year, Einstein in Bohemia has been on my radar since I saw it in another Prague bookstore shortly after its release. You might not know that Albert Einstein lived in Prague for almost two years, teaching at Charles University. In this work, Professor Michael Gordin explores how the city of Prague touched Einstein and how he, in turn, impacted it.
6. Mozart in Prague
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Like Einstein in Bohemia, Mozart in Prague has also been on my radar ever since I was doing research for one of my books in which I speak about some of the famous composer's visits to Prague. I was surprised at the depth of detail contained in this book about both Mozart's time here and the Czechs' relationship to his music and his relationship to them. This is a must-read for Mozart lovers.
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The movie "Amadeus," which was loosely based on Mozart's life and rivalry with composer Antonio Salieri, was filmed almost entirely in Prague. It's worth a look to see the city's beauty which was evident even during communist times, plus it's a fabulous film!
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7. The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich
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A seminal event in WWII, the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich took place in Prague in 1942 at the hands of Czech paratroopers. Named governor of the Nazi-occupied Czech lands by Hitler, Heydrich was the highest-ranking Nazi officer to be assassinated during the war. And the Czechs paid a huge price in the form of brutal retaliation at the hands of the Nazi regime. This book contains a gripping tale of the events.
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In 2016, a movie telling the story of the Heydrich assassination was made. The name of the film is "Anthropoid," the code name of the secret operation. Like "Amadeus," it was filmed in Prague and is a fairly accurate account of the plot.
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8. HHhH: A Novel
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HHhH by Laurent Binet is an historical fiction account of the assassination of Heydrich. The letters stand for "Himmlers Hirn heisst Heydrich," or "Himmler's brain is called Heydrich." Binet's novel won the prestigious Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman and is an international bestseller. It was also listed as one of the New York Times' Notable Books of 2012.
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9. Havel: A Life
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Vaclav Havel's rise from playwright to dissident to president of former Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic is one of the most fascinating and momentous of the 20th century. In this account, Havel's long-time friend, advisor and press secretary, Michael Zantovsky, tells the extraordinary tale.
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10. Prague Travel Tips: An American's Guide to Her Adopted City
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And, of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention my own books! That's right, in addition to these titles, I think you'll find my Prague guidebooks extremely useful for your trip to Prague. And you'll learn a little of the city's and the Czech Republic's history, as well - especially in my Prague walks series. So add them to your holiday shopping list, too! They are sold on this website, on Amazon, and on my Prague Guidebooks website. All are available in both paperback and Kindle versions. The Kindle versions will work on your phone or tablet, too!
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Happy Shopping, Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!
Of course, there are many more titles I could recommend, and in fact I do so on this site here and here. But the ones recommended above inject some new works into the mix and are a great start!
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