Books from Czechia

Gregor Samsa wakes to find himself transformed into a giant insect, and his family's care slowly turns to revulsion. Kafka's spare, unsettling parable of alienation, dependence, and conditional love — a cornerstone of modern literature.

Set against the backdrop of the Prague Spring, this novel follows the entangled lives of a Czech surgeon, his wife, and his mistress. Through their complex relationships and infidelities, Milan Kundera examines profound philosophical questions about existence, freedom, and the nature of love. It's a story that balances tragedy and comedy, prompting readers to reflect on their own lives and choices.

• love triangle
• betrayal
• morally grey

Josef K. wakes one morning to find himself arrested for an unspecified crime. As he navigates a bewildering and opaque legal system, he struggles to understand the charges against him and defend his innocence. This story explores themes of bureaucratic absurdity, guilt, and the individual's powerlessness against an overwhelming authority.

• mystery box
• fish out of water

Vi sono situazioni in cui per un istante non riconosciamo chi ci sta accanto, istanti in cui l'identità dell'altro si cancella, mentre, di riflesso, dubitiamo della nostra. Solo Kundera poteva trasformare una percezione così segreta e sconcertante in materia romanzesca – e farne uno dei suoi libri più dolorosi e illuminanti. «Di questo ultimo libro, intiepidito dalla luce rosea della vecchiaia, posso dire soltanto una parola: è perfetto. Non c'è personaggio, episodio, immagine, parola, spazio bianco, virgola: non c'è luogo dell'incantevole intreccio che sia segnato da una minima ombra. Nessuno scrittore, oggi, ha l'eleganza di Kundera: la sua naturalezza; il suo tocco delicato e sovrano». Pietro Citati

For thirty-five years, Haňtá has worked compacting trash, but every evening, he secretly rescues books from the hydraulic press, bringing them home to fill his house. Though his boss calls him an idiot, Haňtá possesses a profound intellect, capable of quoting the Talmud, Hegel, and Lao-Tzu. This fable celebrates the enduring power of the written word through the eyes of an unlikely intellectual.

• fish out of water

When intelligent giant salamanders are discovered and exploited, humanity's greed quickly leads to global conflict. Karel Čapek's classic satire presents a darkly humorous vision of civilization's potential for self-destruction. This story explores the consequences of unchecked ambition and the fragility of peace.

• survival

Vaclav Smil's "How the World Really Works" cuts through the noise to explain the essential systems that power our planet and civilization. He focuses on the critical roles of energy, food, materials, and economics, offering a clear-eyed view of the realities that shape our past, present, and future. This book provides a grounded perspective on the complex global systems we all depend on.

A broad history of how muscle, animals, water and fossil fuels powered human societies, from foragers to the modern age. Vaclav Smil shows what each energy source made possible, where it fell short, and why energy alone never settles history.

First published in 1920, Karel Čapek's "R.U.R." is a seminal play that introduced the word 'robot' to the world. It examines the societal implications of artificial beings designed for labor, who eventually gain sentience and rebel against their creators. This work serves as a cautionary tale about unchecked technological progress and the essence of what it means to be human.

• betrayal

In the Czech Republic, Dora Idesová inherits a legacy of healers known as 'goddesses,' women who wielded love and curses. Growing up, she dismissed these tales until her studies revealed the dark history of witchcraft trials and Nazi investigations tied to her village. Dora uncovers how these women were pawns in power struggles, forcing her to confront a tragic family destiny. This novel brilliantly blends history, folklore, and fiction to explore the hidden past of the White Carpathians.

• coming of age
• dual timeline
• quest

An intimate history of Czechoslovakia under communism; a meditation on the social and political role of art, and a triumphant statement of the values underlying all the recent revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe.