Kavka a čaroděj - Příběh ze staré Březnice – Pešta Miloslav (2024)

The work consists of two stories from the town of Březnice, which intersect at the end. The main story takes place at the end of the 17th century and depicts life in a mill, at the castle courtyard and the castle itself, education at a Jesuit college, the fight against the plague in the town, and later the war with the Turks in the Balkans. The plot unfolds like a detective story, set against authentic historical backdrops. An important motif is witchcraft, not in the sense of fantasy, but rather the kind of witchcraft that has been practiced in our lands since time immemorial, later in defiance of the church and the courts. The described practices are drawn from court records and old documents. The main character, Heřman (and most of the supporting characters), however, enters that historical reality and interacts with historical figures from the world of fantasy. He perceives the world through the eyes of his time, behaves according to the customs and level of knowledge of the era, and is endowed with extraordinary healing abilities as recounted by a respected healer. The second plot is set in the present, depicting life at the Březnice castle and lightly melancholically illustrating the details and fates of the characters from the first story. The book is intended for a broader readership, from those interested in history and old times to lovers of adventure and detective stories.