Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Ebook197 pages4 hours
Prague Pictures: Portraits of a City
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
Unavailable in your country
Unavailable in your country
About this ebook
Prague is the magic capital of Europe. Since the days of Emperor Rudolf II, 'devotee of the stars and cultivator of the spagyric art', who in the late 1500s summoned alchemists and magicians from all over the world to his castle on Hradcany hill, it has been a place of mystery and intrigue. Wars, revolutions, floods, the imposition of Soviet communism, or even the depredations of the tourist boom after the 'Velvet Revolution' of 1989, could not destroy the unique atmosphere of this beautiful, proud and melancholy city on the Vltava. John Banville traces Prague's often tragic history and portrays the people who made it, the emperors and princes, geniuses and charlatans, heroes and scoundrels, and paints a portrait of the Prague of today, revelling in its newfound freedoms, eager to join the European Community and at the same time suspicious of what many Praguers see as yet another totalitarian takeover. He writes of his first visit to the city, in the depths of the Cold War, when he engaged in a spot of art smuggling, and of subsequent trips there, of the people he met, the friends he made, the places he came to know.
Unavailable
Author
John Banville
John Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He is the author of many highly acclaimed and prize-winning novels including The Sea, which won the 2005 Booker Prize. He has been awarded the Franz Kafka Prize and a literary award from the Lannan Foundation. He lives in Dublin.
Read more from John Banville
The Mourner: A Parker Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Jugger: A Parker Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Score: A Parker Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prague Pictures: Portraits of a City Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Crooked Timber of Humanity: Chapters in the History of Ideas - Second Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best European Fiction 2013 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow's the Pain? [Editions Gallic] Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Prague Pictures
Related ebooks
Moon in a Dead Eye: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Risen from Ruins: The Cultural Politics of Rebuilding East Berlin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCheckpoint Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEscape from East Berlin: An American Tale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBerlin Embassy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Absinthe: A Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Again: A Walk from Hook of Holland to Istanbul Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwilight In Italy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCurrency of Paper Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rubble of Rubles Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Judith: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dreams of Leaving and Remaining: Fragments of a Nation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5La Superba Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Luzern Photograph Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Missing Year of Juan Salvatierra Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Furniture Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gentleman Overboard Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGirl on the Edge: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nagasaki Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the Afternoon Sun: My Alexandria Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDarke Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Travel For You
Fodor's Bucket List Europe: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet Mexico Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Spectacular Trips Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Fodor's Bucket List USA: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFodor's Essential Japan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFodor's Best Road Trips in the USA: 50 Epic Trips Across All 50 States Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spanish Verbs - Conjugations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spotting Danger Before It Spots You: Build Situational Awareness To Stay Safe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Travel Agent Secrets - How to Plan Your Vacation Like a Pro Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel: Questions, Answers, and Reflections Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Northeast Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide (5th Edition): Where and How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems and Minerals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiving the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFodor's The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West: with the Best Scenic Road Trips Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Van Life Cookbook: Delicious Recipes, Simple Techniques and Easy Meal Prep for the Road Trip Lifestyle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings50 Great American Places: Essential Historic Sites Across the U.S. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fodor's New Orleans Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Disney Declassified Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Notes from a Small Island Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fodor's Best Weekend Road Trips Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tales from the Haunted South: Dark Tourism and Memories of Slavery from the Civil War Era Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Prague Pictures
Rating: 3.988095238095238 out of 5 stars
4/5
42 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prague is the magic capital of Europe. Since the days of Emperor Rudolf II, 'devotee of the stars and cultivator of the spagyric art', who in the late 1500s summoned alchemists and magicians from all over the world to his castle on Hradcany hill, it has been a place of mystery and intrigue. Wars, revolutions, floods, the imposition of Soviet communism, or even the depredations of the tourist boom after the 'Velvet Revolution' of 1989, could not destroy the unique atmosphere of this beautiful, proud and melancholy city on the Vltava. John Banville traces Prague's often tragic history and portrays the people who made it, the emperors and princes, geniuses and charlatans, heroes and scoundrels, and paints a portrait of the Prague of today, revelling in its newfound freedoms, eager to join the European Community and at the same time suspicious of what many Praguers see as yet another totalitarian takeover. He writes of his first visit to the city, in the depths of the Cold War, when he engaged in a spot of art smuggling, and of subsequent trips there, of the people he met, the friends he made, the places he came to know.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a delightful melange of personal narrative, Prague history, and biographical snippets on historic figures associated with Prague. Banville has an ongoing love affair with the city. He recounts various visits both during and after the Cold War. Interspersed are biographical sketches of Charles IV, Rudolph II, photographer Josef Sudek, Tycho Brae and Kepler. Banville's style is warm, personal and erudite. He achieves what every travel writer strives for: hemakes the city come to life and makes you want yo go there.