Prague Tales (Central European Classics)

By Jan Neruda

Book Overview

Prague Tales ia a collection of Jan Neruda's intimate, wry, and bitter-sweet stories of life among the inhabitants of the Little Quarter of nineteenth-century Prague. These finely tuned and varied vignettes established Neruda as the quintessential Czech realist--considered by many to be the Charles Dickens of nineteenth-century Czechoslovakia. Through Neruda's writings, the reader can fully appreciate Prague's ever increasing awareness of itself as a Czech, rather than an Austrian city. Prague Tales is a classic collection by a writer whose influence hass been acknowledged by generations of writers, including Capek, Kafka, Kundera, Skvorecky, and Ivan Klima, one of the most well-known and highly regarded contemporary Czech writers, who has contributed an Introduction to this new translation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1858660580
• ISBN13: 9781858660585
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

perfect

Neruda (the original one, from whom Pablo took his nom-de-plume) is an astounding writer. His "tales" all take place on the street that he grew up on, and they're funny/sad/touching and highly evocative. The sense of place is strong, and wonderful, and I felt reading it that I too was a nineteenth century resident of this small commnity in Prague. Whether it's a middle-aged man smitten with a pretty young neighbor, or a little boy hiding in the cathedral so he can see the ghost of Saint Vitus who supposedly says mass every midnight at his shrine, Neruda gives us people at once foreign and familiar. In a very different way, his tales remind me of Sarah Ann Jewitt's stories of life in a 19th century New England town. They share the ability to depict their communities with a quiet, intimate passion devoid of sentimentality yet full of love.

Great book

Great book about an interesting city. I got it whilst I was studying at Charles University. This book gives a great look into the lives of Praguers. If you are like Eastern/ Central European history you should read this book.

Pleasant Nostalgia

I really enjoyed reading this book. For me Prague is an amazing and beautiful place. Reading this book makes me feel like I'm right back in the city again. I also like the fact that the book is fairly upbeat and easy to read. I definitely recommend reading this book over a Pivo in a Pivovar in Mala Stana.