Pohlednice z Absurdistánu - Praha na konci dějin – Sayer Derek (2025)

Written by British-Canadian scholar of Czech studies Derek Sayer, this book offers a unique insight into twentieth-century Czech history. In his previous book, the author called Prague the capital of the twentieth century, and that perspective remains the starting point here. Derek Sayer examines cultural and social life in detail, revealing the absurdities that accompanied the twentieth century while also highlighting the fragility of the democratic system. The subtitle Prague at the End of History refers to the famous work written by Francis Fukuyama in the 1990s, while also expressing the perspective and detachment characteristic of Sayer. Historical and political events intertwine with the personal histories of Czech figures who fought for their own freedom in the inhospitable conditions of much of the twentieth century. Considerable attention is devoted to the development of art, which was forced to respond to the political situation in one way or another. The book has all the qualities of scholarly work, yet its author is not constrained by academic language; instead, it is a highly readable text accompanied by more than seventy period photographs. The contents are in Czech.