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A traffic inspector makes off with a tram left unattended. The inhabitants
of Hradec Králove put up a fight to bring back the sound of church bells
at night, and Prague hosts the world’s geniuses. Find out more in
magazine with Daniela Lazarova.
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Czech BooksHearth and Horizon: cultural identity in a globalised world.
This week’s Czech Books visits the home of the distinguished philosopher
and author, Professor Erazim Kohák, to discuss his book, Hearth and
Horizon. After exile from Czechoslovakia in 1948, Professor Kohák had a
long academic career in the United States, and is Professor Emeritus at
Boston University. He returned to his native land in 1990, and since then
has continued to teach philosophy and write, is the recipient of the
highest academic and cultural honours, and is one of those who could truly
be called a public intellectual. Hearth and Horizon is his book about
cultural identity in a globalised world and in particular asks the question
- what does it mean to be Czech? I first asked Professor Kohák what the
impetus for writing the book had been.
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Czech BooksFrom Finnegan’s Wake to Calisthenics: Czech-Irish relations in the first half of the 20th century
A book entitled “Czech-Irish Cultural Relations 1900-1950” may sound a
little obscure, but this slim volume published last year by the Centre for
Irish Studies of Prague’s Charles University is anything but a dull, dry
thesis. The book covers a hugely interesting and complex period, during
which Ireland emerged from centuries of rule from London and Czechoslovakia
arose from the ashes of the Habsburg Empire. David Vaughan picks up the
story, in this week’s Czech Books.
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Czech BooksSimon Mawer talks about The Glass Room
One of the most acclaimed books to be published in the last couple of years
is the Man Booker Prize shortlisted novel, The Glass Room, by the British
writer, Simon Mawer. It is a book with more than a passing relevance to the
Czech Republic, as the hero is a building that stands to this day on the
edge of the city of Brno.
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ArtsCzech Catholic literature 1918-1945: from utopia to despair
Opposed, later persecuted – and finally forgotten. That was the fate of
many Czech Catholic writers, who stood outside the literary mainstream. In
one of Europe’s most atheist nations, the impact of these authors
gradually diminished throughout the 20th century although in their heyday,
in the interwar period, they managed to convey many original ideas and
intriguing artistic expressions.
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Czech BooksHana Wilson: messing about on boats after two decades on the airwaves
When she lost her job after twenty years in the Czech section of the BBC,
Hana Wilson was far from despondent. She simply allowed her hobby to take
over her life. Hana, who left Czechoslovakia back in 1980, has spent much
of the last decade on the waterways of Britain. Now she has published a
book, introducing Czechs to the wonders of life on a narrowboat. Hana
Wilson is David Vaughan’s guest in this week’s edition of Czech Books.
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PanoramaDictionary of Communist Totalitarianism decodes the language of propaganda
How did communist propaganda brainwash people? What were the most frequent
words used in the communist press? And was it at all possible to learn any
real news from the censored newspapers? These are some of the questions a
team of Czech linguists is trying to answer in their Dictionary of
Communist Totalitarianism.
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Czech BooksLost and found in translation: writers discuss the complexities of literature across frontiers
Last month Prague hosted Bookworld, one of Europe’s major international
book fairs. Writers from around the world, whose work covers a Babel of
different languages, converged on the Czech capital. As part of the event,
six of the writers got together to talk about how literature can play a
role in helping to build understanding between cultures. A lively
discussion emerged, chaired by Radio Prague’s David Vaughan.
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One on OneIain Banks: the revival of science fiction inspiration
Scottish writer Iain Banks is a prolific novelist of conventional novels
and science fiction. Since his first novel, “The Wasp Factory” was
published in 1984, he has penned around a dozen conventional novels. Under
the pen name Iain M Banks he has published around half that number of
science fiction books. Many of these feature a utopian civilization of the
future called “The Culture.” Away from the writing, Mr. Banks takes a
public political stand on many issues, for example he tore up his passport
and mailed it to the prime minister in protest against the war in Iraq.
Radio Prague met up with Iain Banks who is in the city for the Prague
Writers’ Festival and asked him to explain what his latest book,
“Transition,” is about.
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