Brief History Of The Czech Lands To 2004

by Petr Čornej

This brief history of the Czech Lands has been compiled by leading Czech historians. Its brevity and clarity result from their highly skillful refinement and distillation of profound and detailed knowledge. This little book is one that the reader can either read from start to finish or use as reference for years to come.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Petr Čornej is a prominent Czech historian who focuses on the history of the late Middle Ages, especially on Hussites, the history of historiography and the research of historical memory.

His scientific and pedagogical career is connected with the Institute for Czech and World Literature of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Faculty of Philosophy and Pedagogy of Charles University, the Literary Academy and the current Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

He has won the Magnesia Litera Book of the Year 2020 award for his monograph Jan Žižka: Život a doba husitského válecníka.

Reviews

[Rossdavidh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief summary of over 1,000 years of history of the lands of Czech-speaking peoples (Moravia, Bohemia, parts of Silesia), with inevitably some discussion of events in neighboring countries over the centuries, especially Austro-Hungary and Slovakia. The authors make clear at the outset that their perspective is Czech, so when discussing, say, relations with the Hapsburg (Austrian) monarchs or divisions between Czech and Slovak political parties in the years between the World Wars, you know that you're getting a particular point of view.

It's also only around 100 pages, which works out to something like a decade per page, so obviously there are some time periods which are glossed over.

Nonetheless, for a reader such as me who has no real background knowledge of most of the history of central Europe, it was a good way to get the big picture. Also, plenty of visuals, from woodcuts up to photographs. A lot packed in a small package.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were dates and names (and lots of typing mistakes) but no explanations. And, after the section up to the first world war is very brief and offers no sense of how important various events were and why, the section after contains way too much irrelevant info and manages to drown the significance of things in it.

[Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a helpful reference book, somewhat stronger in the medieval and renaissance history. It reads as a series of facts - dates, times, names - ultimately lacked an engaging narrative voice but interesting for getting an initial primer on Czech history. Loses stars for poor editing in the English version at least - it's full of typos.

[Brad H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short history of the area around the Czech Republic. The book has been updated recently and the last few pages cover the very complex political situation in the Czech Republic during the last 15 years.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's somewhat of an obvious slant in perspective and choices of subject, as well as some necessary proofreading, but this was a very fascinating read, highly enjoyable, made this trip to Prague so much more enlightening

[Joshua I. James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense. Good background.

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book some time ago when in Prague as I wanted to learn a little more about Czech history. The book does give a concise overview of Czech history but it is very heavily weighted towards the 20th century, which was disappointing for me as mediæval history is much more my thing.

Unfortunately the writing style is extremely dry and I guess it is due to being a translation from Czech which has been done accurately (with a few typos!) but without much attempt to make it engaging.

Sadly the history portrayed is so brief and factual that there is no room for the bits that make history come to life, like the stories of individual that inspire, surprise or make us laugh or shudder.

So whilst this is a technically useful book if you want to find out the bare bones of Czech history, I'm afraid it really isn't actually an enjoyable read.

[Kurt Gottschalk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this book - I wish the Goodreads system was just plus, check, minus and I'd give it a check. It's ... perfectly serviceable. Reviews elsewhere say that it's factually reliable so I trust that it is. It's also drier than the bones at Kostnice v Sedlci (thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week) so it's hard to say it's anything more than informative. I started reading it last summer in Prague and didn't finish. I only thought to pick it up again this week with the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which the book breezes through without so much as a raised eyebrow. The authors cover 15 centuries in under 100 pages, however, so there's no room for poetry. I'm glad I read it and I hope to supplement soon with Derek Sayer's Prague, Capital of the Twentieth Century: A Surrealist History."

[Âme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book during my very brief stint at the Czech Republic and read it when I was back in Turkey. It is really a nice briefing on the history of the Czech lands, and it really gives a satisfying glimpse on the history of Bohemia at large. Of course, it is written from the perspective of the Czech people but as it happens I find the Czech and the Poles to be the only sensible two groups of people in the region and would rely on their evaluations. And, as any man who visited Prague would say, it is a wonderful city and Czech women are awesome ;)

[Oswald · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I went abroad to Europe this summer. One of my favorite cities was Prague. I purchased this book at the Communism Museum in Prague. It's a quick read, and informative on the history of the Czech Republic. I needed a quick understanding of their cultural and political past, and this was good. I am now in search for something more in depth, since I am planning on spending the entire summer of 2011 there.

[June Jonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought it in 2011 Prague , communist history museum

[Eija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huonosti käännetty.