From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk: A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture

“From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Svejk, this cultural dictionary is an intimate look at a people affectionately known for their storytelling humor (tlachani), suspicion of authority, and peaceful demeanor. Instead of the “greats” of Czech arts and letters that appear in standard histories or references, it describes such things as popular songs, movie stars, famous athletes, traditional dishes, and children’s games that are second nature to every Czech.” “In a country boasting the highest per capita consumption of beer (a bottle a day for every man woman and child), and where you once needed a handful of bony (coupons for imported goods) to buy a pair of Levi’s, the Czech Republic today is a modern country of educated Europeans centered around Prague – one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities. These contradictions all find a home in A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture.” “From Brno to Zizkov, Jan Hus to Vaclav Havel, this wry and stimulating collection of over 600 entries marks the first attempt at sewing together the patchwork of Czech culture with the hope of showing what is hezky cesky (nicely Czech) to the world at large.” The dictionary is supplemented by over thirty lists on such topics as the most popular Czech song, novel, athlete, and food. It also includes other primary documents like historical calendars, school-leaving exams, and communist slogans.