PRAGUE

The Heart of Europe

by Cynthia Paces

A sweeping and comprehensive history of Prague--from its origins in the ninth century to the present day--that traces its past as a political center and a city on the periphery of empires.

While illuminating a millennium of political, cultural, and social developments, Prague: The Heart of Europe captures the lives of the men and women who have called the city home. Prague has housed Europe's largest Jewish community, a diverse population of German and Czech speakers, and artisans from all over Europe. This sweeping book highlights the manifold contributions of Prague's artists, architects, musicians, and writers. In doing so, it reveals why the city captivated so many creative men and women, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonín Dvorák, Oskar Kokoschka, the poet Elizabeth Weston, and the alchemist John Dee. As Prague native Franz Kafka once wrote, "Prague does not let go; this little mother has claws."

Read more about Prague: the Heart of Europe

Poets have called Prague the City of One Hundred Spires, Golden Prague, Magic Prague, and the Mother of Cities. Millions of tourists visit the Czech capital each year, awed by the blend of architectural styles and the dramatic landscape. St. Vitus's Gothic cathedral towers above the Charles Bridge and the Vltava River. Winding Gothic alleys lead to elegant squares lined with Renaissance palaces, Baroque statues, and modern glass structures. Yet, the city's beauty often obscures centuries of ethnic and religious conflict. In Prague's Jewish Quarter, the names of nearly 80,000 Holocaust victims are inscribed on the walls of Pinkas Synagogue, which stands as a reminder of a complex and violent past.

Cynthia Paces traces the history of Prague since the late ninth century, when Slavic dukes built the first church and fortifications on the castle hill. Over the course of eleven centuries, Prague vacillated between a political center and a city on the periphery of empires. The Holy Roman Emperors Charles IV and Rudolph II transformed Prague into a European center of arts, politics, and pilgrimage, but centuries of religious conflict, the defenestrations of Prague, and the Thirty Years War threatened to destroy the city. In the twentieth century, Prague was hailed as a beacon of democracy, led by philosopher presidents T. G. Masaryk and Václav Havel, but its citizens also endured violent antisemitism, a Nazi occupation, and a repressive communist regime.

PRAISE FOR PRAGUE: THE HEART OF EUROPE

"In this gem of a book, Cynthia Paces has accomplished a remarkable feat: while recognizing Prague's reputation as a 'magic' 'mysterious' 'golden' city, she presents its long history as a place that also saw conflict, exploitation, and suffering, whose present-day appearance is shaped by all these historical experiences, and by the various peoples who have called it home. The scope of Paces's work is unique in the field. If visiting Prague should be on every traveler's bucket list, this book should be required pre-departure reading." -- Hugh LeCaine Agnew, Author of The Czechs and the Lands of the Bohemian Crown

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"Cynthia Paces treats masterfully the panorama of Prague's history from the earliest traces to the post-communist era. Its lucid prose depicts vividly the interplay of political, social, and economic developments while offering as well a sensitive account of the city's rich cultural life and its linguistic and religious diversity over the centuries." -- Gary B. Cohen, Author of The Politics of Ethnic Survival: Germans in Prague, 1861-1914

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"This deeply researched, beautifully illustrated, and thoughtfully written book should attract the attention of specialists and others interested in Prague, one of Europe's most fascinating cities. Readers of Cynthia Paces's elegant new socio-cultural history are guaranteed to fall in love with 'Golden Prague.'" -- Nancy Wingfield, Author of Flag Wars and Stone Saints: How the Bohemian Lands Became Czech

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"A balanced, comprehensive history book that celebrates a city's lasting cultural contributions, Prague covers shifts in power, brutal historical moments, and architectural feats with acuity." -- Foreword Reviews (Read the full review here)

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"A concise and highly readable comprehensive account of a complex city. Recommended for readers interested in the history of Eastern Europe." -- Library Journal

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