Země skrytých úsměvů – kolektiv autorů (2020)

The book The Land of Hidden Smiles presents 30 short stories by 30 contemporary Czech writers, associated with the Autumn Book Fair in Havlíčkův Brod, plus texts by three deceased authors. The stories are diverse in genre and theme, just as contemporary Czech literature is diverse. Some authors write about the totalitarian past. Petr Bobek tells a story of freedom and love during times of oppression, Miloš Doležal about the evil spread by a StB agent from Jihlava, which eventually turned against him. Jiří Padevět returns to the fate of the tortured priest Josef Toufar. Jiří Kratochvil, in the magically chilling story Vrun, depicts the return of ghosts from the past. Aleš Palán describes the gray mundanity of totalitarianism through the eyes of a child, and the child’s perception of subtle totalitarian tragedies is also presented in Ivana Pecháčková's story. Kateřina Tučková poignantly reminds us of the most vulnerable victim of totalitarian crimes, an elderly Romani woman. A number of authors write about the intricate, joyful, and painful paths of interpersonal relationships. Dora Čechova writes about the return of a long-lost love, Jaroslav Čejka about death and the mystery of a father, Petra Dvořáková about a marital love that doesn't seem much at first glance, Viktorie Hanišová about overly exemplary children, Lidmila Kábrtová about the loneliness of an old woman, Irena...