Zbabělec – Bálek Jaroslav (2022)

It is the story of a man who graduates in 1938 during the Second Republic and goes to university at the beginning of the Protectorate. After the closure of universities, he works as a Protectorate official and is influenced by all the traps of this period. After the war, he works at the ministry, graduates from university, and joins the Communist Party. And all this despite the protests of his family, who view the situation negatively. Gradually, he climbs the functional ladder, taking some steps that he finds repugnant, but the situation demands them. On one hand, he is crushed by his environment, but on the other hand, he also uses it to his advantage. After 1989, he retires and helps privatize engineering factories for his children and relatives. The book presents a view of Czech history in the 20th century through various attitudes, actions, and conflicts of the characters in this book. History is also illustrated by the contemporary daily press, thus including some events that are not very well known. It is primarily intended for those interested in Czech history and the politics of the twentieth century and the development of opinions and attitudes during this period. The author of the books All My Ball Season, Absurdities, Murder in the Garden, Dana, 100 Years of Losses and Victories – On Politics and the Meaning of Czech History,…