All Along the Danube: Recipes from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria  •  Marina Polvay FOOD •  2000 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES Subtitled "Recipes from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria," this is a classic cookbook from Central Europe. It includes some thoughtful comments on culture. (EUR42, $16.95)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay  •  Michael Chabon LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 656 PAGES A dazzling tale that follows its heros from Nazi-occupied Prague to New York and the Antarctic, where US forces are stationed to keep an eye on the Germans. Houdini, the Golem, Hitler, inventor of the superhero Stan Lee and other mostly historical figues make an appearance in the lives of Chabon's protagonists Joe and Sammy. Even if you're not much interested in New York or the golden age of comic books (and are puzzled by swoops and twists of the comic-book plot), you'll appreciate Chabon's flare for language and his characters. It won a Pulitzer. (ANT175, $15.00)
Architecture of New Prague 1895-1945  •  Rostislav Svacha  •  Alexandra Buchler  •  Jan Maly ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 544 PAGES Originally published in Czech in 1985, this groundbreaking book stakes out the first half of the 20th century as a seminal period for Czech architecture. It's a major scholarly survey of cubist, rondocubist and constructivist contributions to Prague, with site plans, excellent black-and-white photos of buildings and scholarly paraphernalia. (CZH49, $75.00)
The Arsonist  •  Egon Hostovsky  •  Christopher Morris LITERATURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 165 PAGES A slippery, intriguing tale of resentment and frustration set in Zbecnov, a town of the eastern of Bohemia (not unlike the town where Hostovsky was raised). Originally published in 1935, the novel explores the town and its youth in the face of a suspicious fire. (CZH42, $17.50)
Art for Travellers Prague  •  Deanna MacDonald GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES An illustrated guide to Bohemian art and architecture in and around Prague, organized by neighborhood. (CZH66, $20.00)
art/shop/eat Prague  •  Jasper Tilbury GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES Blue Guide's compact, illustrated guidebook with excellent local maps. The book includes not only museums, shops and restaurants, but also not-to-be-missed sites and attractions by neighborhood. The perfect addendum to the Blue Guide Prague (CZH56). (CZH59, $13.95)
Attila, A Barbarian King Who Challenged Rome  •  John Man BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 336 PAGES A brisk, popular account of the life, political derring-do and military exploits of the fifth-century conqueror. Man interweaves his own research and travels with what little is known of the fearsome Huns and westward push from the Russian steppes. For a brief moment the Hun Empire stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Rhine, and south to the Baltic. (HGR46, $25.95)
Avant-Guide Prague, Insiders' Guide for Urban Adventures  •  Dan Levine GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES Created by a former Frommer's writer who wanted to make guidebooks which were neither travel essays nor phone books, this opinionated volume packs useful, youthful information into a colorful format. Includes interviews with Czech notables, maps, photos and some of the funniest descriptions to ever grace a "guidebook." Each restaurant, shiop, hotel or site is given a nice, long description. The jazzy design, with text often printed against a dark background, looks interesteing but makes this book none too easy to read. What were they thinking? (CZH22, $19.95)
The Axe  •  Ludvik Vaculik  •  Marian Sling LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 223 PAGES A story of ideology, played out between father and son, set against the cultural reawakening of 1960's Czechoslovakia. (CZH34, $16.00)
Baroque and Rococo Art  •  Germain Bazin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES An excellent illustrated survey of Baroque and Rococo art and architecture, this volume in the acclaimed "World of Art" series is a good companion to the golden age of Middle Europe. (EUR53, $16.95)
Bela Bartok and Turn-of-the-Centry Budapest  •  Judith Frigyesi CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2000 •  PAPER  • 429 PAGES A look at Bartok's art and the social and culural life out of which it emerged in turn-of-the-century Hungary. Frigyesi's looks not only at Bartok but also the critic George Lukacs, and poet Endre Ady. (HGR35, $26.95)
Birds of Europe  •  Killian Mullarney  •  Lars Svensson  •  Dan Zetterstrom  •  Peter J. Grant FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES • FAVORITE This Princeton Field Guide features 3,500 illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom. Color plates depict every species -- and sometimes several different variants -- for 722 birds found from the Urals to the Atlantic, Scandinavia to the Middle East. (FG47, $29.95)
Blue Guide Czech and Slovak Republic  •  Michael Jacobs GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES A comprehensive travel guide with a focus on history, architecture and art. Michael Jacobs, a popular author of guidebooks, presents a thorough portrait of the region. (CZH18, $24.95)
Blue Guide Prague  •  Jasper Tilbury GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A detailed guide to the jewel of Eastern Europe complete with practical information, maps and cultural and historical background of Prague and Central Bohemia. With a color map, site plans and line drawings. (CZH56, $21.95)
The Book of Images  •  Rainer Maria Rilke  •  Edward Snow LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES Poems and lyrics from Rilke during his most emotional and impressionistic period (1902-1906), ably translated by Edward Snow and presented in bilingual format on facing pages. With poems reflecting on his childhood in Bohemia. (GER122, $16.00)
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting  •  Milan Kundera LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES Called a novel, this book is actually equal parts fairy tale, autobiography, philosophical treatise and literary criticism. Kundera strings together loosely related short stories to form an original and entertaining look at Czech culture. (CZH17, $13.95)
Bradt Guide Hungary  •  Jo Scotchmer  •  Adrian Phillips GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES A comprehensive guide in the Bradt series, which includes, in addition to plenty of practical travel information a good overview of history and culture. (HGR41, $21.95)
Bradt Guide Serbia  •  Laurence Mitchell GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series with good information on transportation, historical sites, and accommodations, with an extended section on Belgrade, the capital city, and a separate chapter on Kosovo. (BLK67, $24.99)
Breathing Under Water and Other East European Essays  •  Stanislaw Baranczak CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1992 •  PAPER  • 258 PAGES Poet and professor Stanislaw Baranczak, a fixture on the Eastern European intellectual scene in the second half of the 20th century, reflects on writers and writing in this collection of stimulating and insightful essays. (EUR139, $12.50)
Budapest Exit, A Memoir of Fascism, Communism and Freedom  •  Csaba Teglas BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 162 PAGES Teglas writes with simplicity of coming of age in Budapest during the Nazi invasion, Stalinist takeover and the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution. Through it all, he got a degree, married and riased a family -- and ultimately escaped to the United States. (HGR36, $27.95)
Cadogan Guide Prague  •  Sadakat Kadri GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Prague in the excellent British series featuring a 14-page section of full-page, full-color street maps and detailed listings of where to go and what to do. With 80 hotels and 155 restuarants, all described. (CZH48, $14.95)
Candles in the Dark, A New Spirit for a Plural World  •  Barbara Baudot  •  Vaclav Havel ANTHOLOGY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A thought-provoling and timely guide to putting globalization and public policy into a firm ethical context. With contributions by diverse scholars, politicians and advocates. (WLD36, $25.00)
The Castle, A New Translation, Based on the Restored Text  •  Franz Kafka  •  Mark Harman  •  Malcolm Pasley LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES The story of a man, known only as K, and his fruitless struggle to gain entrance into The Castle and all that the castle may represent. This new translation of Kafka's unfinished masterpiece does great justice to the author's powerful tale. (EUR68, $14.00)
Cathedrals and Castles, Building in the Middle Ages  •  Alain Erlande-Brandenburg ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A slim encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages. This volume in the acclaimed "Discoveries" series features hundreds of drawings and color illustrations, a brief chronology and more information than you would imagine between its slim covers. Take it along to gain a better appreciation of the Middle Ages and its legacy in Europe. (MED07, $12.95)
Central Europe Map  •  Freytag & Berndt 2004 •  MAP A colorful physical relief map of Central Europe at a scale of 1:2,000,000. (EUR12, $11.95)
Central Europe, Enemies, Neighbors, Friends  •  Lonnie Johnson HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 351 PAGES An academic survey of the social, political, and economic past of Central Europe, and the conflicts that stir modern-day European politics. From medieval to modern times, the formative historical events of Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia, are all introduced. Johnson is especially successful in analyzing the struggle of small nations in the face of imperial powers and how these experiences have created a diverse European heritage. With maps. Awarded an Outstanding Academic Book of 1997 by Choice. (EUR69, $39.95)
Clara's Grand Tour, Travels With a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-century Europe  •  Glynis Ridley HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES The entertaining history of a most unusual eighteenth-century European celebrity. Clara the Indian rhinoceros was brought to Europe in 1741 by the Dutch sea captain Douwemout Van der Meer, and toured for seventeen years, to the delight of heads of state such as Louis XV and Frederick the Great. A marvelous and unique look at the introduction of Eastern wildlife into the Western world. (FRN536, $12.00)
Collected Stories  •  Franz Kafka LITERATURE •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 560 PAGES A comprehensive antholgy of Kafka's stories in an Everyman's Library edition. (CZH61, $24.00)
The Complete Stories  •  Franz Kafka LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 486 PAGES All of Kafka's stories, including The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, and In The Penal Colony. Edited by Nahum Glatzer with a foreword by John Updike. (CZH47, $15.00)
A Concise History of Bulgaria  •  R.J. Crampton HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 287 PAGES A highly readable, illustrated introduction to Bulgaria's history from medieval empire to Ottoman rule, revival and modernization, to the fall of Communism. Second edition. (BGR01, $27.99)
Contemporary Jewish Writing In Hungary: An Anthology  •  Eva Forgacs  •  Susan Robin Suleiman ANTHOLOGY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 520 PAGES This anthology of Hungarian authors both famous (Pulitzer Prize winner Imre Kertesz) and never-before-published-in-English (too many to name) contains a mixture of novel and memoir excerpts, short stories and poetry. The authors span the generations from pre-World War II to post-Communist. The editors are distinguished in their own rights, Suleiman a Comparative Literature professor at Harvard, Forgacs an art history professor formerly of the Hungarian Academy of Crafts and Designs. (HGR39, $24.95)
The Cossacks, An Illustrated History  •  John Ure HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES In this lively, beautifully illustrated overview, a career diplomat (and frequent visitor to the region) explores the history of the Cossacks in Southern Russia and central Asia and their role in world affairs. With 105 color and 30 black and white illustrations. Interestingly, Ure challenges the notion that the Cossacks are no longer influential (or evident), detailing their involvement in Chechnya, Bosnia and other places. (RUS135, $45.00)
Culture Smart! Czech Republic  •  Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (CZH64, $9.95)
Culture Smart! Hungary  •  Brian McLean GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture, equally of interest to the traveler and business person. (HGR45, $9.95)
Czech and Slovak Republics Map  •  Freytag & Berndt 2006 •  MAP A detailed, fully indexed map to the Czech and Slovak Republics at a scale of 1:400,000. It is also the most detailed map available of the route of the Danube between Regensburg and Budapest. Published in Austria. (EUR35, $12.95)
Czecho/Slovakia: Ethnic Conflict, Constitutional Fissure, Negotiated Breakup  •  Eric Stein HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 386 PAGES A fascinating, scholarly account of Stein's experiences consulting on constitutional reform in Czechoslovakia. A Czech-born professor of law at the University of Michigan, Stein was asked by Havel and the government to participate in drafting the democratic constitution (a process which ultimately resulted in the orderly breakup of the country). In addition to his own experiences and research, Stein interviews dozens of politicians and others about the failure to reach agreement. (CZH40, $29.95)
Danube  •  Claudio Magris CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2008 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A gifted novelist's stimulating journey down the Danube from its source in the heart of what once was the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the Balkans to the Black Sea. The book is an intellectually charged, evocative portrait of the places and personalities of Central Europe. Magris is an erudite, cerebral guide with a penchant for history. On some level, this wholly unclassifiable book is a travelogue. (EUR58, $16.00)
The Danube Cycleway, Donaueschingen to Budapest  •  John Higginson GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A compact, practical guide to the 85-mile biking route along the Danube from Donaueschingen in Bavaria though Austria to Budapest. (CEU20, $18.95)
Dvorak and His World  •  Michael Beckerman MUSIC •  1993 •  PAPER  • 296 PAGES This volume about the famed Czech composer is divided into two parts: the first is a collection of essays dealing with his relations to his country and other composers, while the second is a set of letters, early reviews, and other documents. Together, they provide an interesting view of his personal life and his influence on the world around him. (CZH23, $27.95)
Eastern Europe Map  •  Freytag & Berndt MAP A detailed travel map of Eastern Europe at a scale of 1:2,000,000 with the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow and the Black Sea. Place names are in the local language and Cyrillic. (EUR36, $11.95)
Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900  •  Alfred W. Crosby NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 370 PAGES A pleasure to read, this book is the moving tale of how early explorers, colonists and settlers inadvertently reshaped our biological world. It is the story of the displacement of native plants and animals, transfer of disease and other exchanges of organisms, good and bad, between the old and new world. Second, updated edition. (NAT22, $26.99)
Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe  •  Henri Pirenne HISTORY •  1936 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Pirenne, an important economic historian, traces the economic and social development of Western Europe from the end of the Roman Empire to the middle of the 15th century in this classic book, first published in 1936. It gives a concise picture of medieval Western Europe, including social disturbances, economic and social catastrophes, famine and the Black Death. A separate section on the North Sea and the Baltic contains specific references to the Hanseatic League. (EUR18, $15.00)
The Engineer of Human Souls  •  Josef Skvorecky  •  Paul Wilson LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES This complex, entertaining novel centers on protagonist Danny Smiricky, a writer in exile, living and teaching in Canada after living under both the Nazis and the Communists. (CZH29, $14.95)
Eyewitness Guide Vienna  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This superb guide to Vienna features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. An extensive timeline of Viennese history, suggested walks in the city, a chapter on day trips in the region, and helpful listings of accommodations, restaurants and shops are also included. (AST01, $23.00)
Fatelessness  •  Imre Kertesz  •  Tim Wilkinson LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This powerful novel by a Pulitzer Prize-winner tells the story of a teenage boy deported from Hungary to the Nazi death camps in 1944. It's drawn from Kertesz's own experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. In a new tranlsation by Tim Wilkinson. (CEU26, $13.95)
The Glance of Countess Hahn-Hahn (Down the Danube)  •  Peter Esterhazy LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 246 PAGES A confounding, postmodern novel, this meditation on travel, the Danube, and its history is great fun for those with an appreciation for wordplay and intellectual games. Its protagonist is a heroic traveler who communicates in a series of telegrams, narratives and dreamlike monologues. The novel doubles as a stunning travelogue of the Danube from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. (HGR11, $19.00)
The Golem  •  Gustave Meyrink LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 190 PAGES The famous mystical, terrifying novel of the supernatural set in Prague's Jewish Ghetto in 1890. (CZH41, $9.95)
The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War  •  Jaroslav Hasek  •  Cecil Parrott LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 752 PAGES The deeply funny story of a hapless Czech soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army -- dismissed for incompetence only to be pressed into service by the Russians in World War I (where he is captured by his own troops). A mischief-maker, bohemian and drunk, Hasek demonstrated his wit in this classic novel of the Czech character and preposterous nature of war. This unabridged Penguin Classics edition, as translated by Cecil Parrott, includes the original illustrations by Josef Lada. (CZH11, $16.00)
The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES Scott, whose interest in the history of cathedrals began when he first saw the magnificent Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury, England, takes his reader on a historical, architectural and sociological tour of the magnificent spires and stained-glass windows that dot the landscape of Europe. It's an accessible, personable overview. (EUR190, $17.95)
Great Country Houses of Central Europe: The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland  •  Lord Michael Pratt  •  Gerhard Trumler ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 380 PAGES An illustrated history of the palaces, villas, and castles of Central Europe, as well as the families that built them and the surrounding gardens, grounds, art and interiors. Lord Michael Pratt, a British scholar specializing in modern European history, focuses on 30 estates throughout Central Europe. With 380 illustrations, 350 in full color. (CEU34, $95.00)
The Great Jewish Cities of Central and Eastern Europe  •  Eli Valley GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 538 PAGES Subtitled "A Travel Guide and Resource Book to Prague, Warsaw, Cracow, and Budapest," this guidebook covers the Jewish history and attractions of these major European cities. With suggested walks, site descriptions and information on each city's Jewish traditions, this is the most comprehensive guide of its type available. (EUR95, $72.00)
The Grooves of Change, Eastern Europe at the Turn of the Millennium  •  J.F. Brown HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES A survey of the events from the fall of communism to 2000 by a leading scholar. Brown discusses social and political change in the region, prospects for the future -- and the growing economic rift between East Central and South Eastern Europe. (EUR90, $23.95)
The Haunted Land, Facing Europe's Ghosts After Communism  •  Tina Rosenberg CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 437 PAGES In this groundbreaking book, a journalist reports on how the newly democratized people of East Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have confronted the horrors of their former governments. Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. (EUR54, $16.95)
Heart of Europe, The Past in Poland's Present  •  Norman Davies HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 483 PAGES A history of Poland in reverse chronology from the Solidarity Movement to early civilization, condensed from the author's definitive three-volume history. (PLD06, $24.99)
Here Is Where We Meet  •  John Berger LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. "The dead don't stay where they are buried," the protagonist's mother tells him, and this becomes the mantra for this most unusual journey through Europe's history and people. (EUR189, $14.00)
Historical Atlas of Central Europe  •  Paul Mogocsi HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 232 PAGES An influential, authoritative survey of maps and shifting borders in the region from the Middle Ages until the present. With dozens of superb color maps illuminating the history and ethnic complexity of this bewildering part of the world. The atlas covers the region from Poland, Lithuania, and the eastern part of Germany to Greece and western Turkey and extends in time from the early fifth century to the present. (EUR33, $45.00)
The History of Eastern Europe for Beginners  •  Paul Beck HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 186 PAGES • COMING IN An irreverent tour of recent Eastern European history in documentary comic-book style, a provocative, fast-moving and opinionated look at who is in conflict with whom and why, nationhood, ethnicity and the future. (EUR30, $11.00)
A History of Hungary  •  Peter F. Sugar  •  Peter Hanak  •  Tibor Frank HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 438 PAGES With experts contributing chapters on their areas of interest, this book is an excellent survey of the political and cultural history of the nation. (HGR06, $20.95)
A History of Modern Hungary, 1867 -1994  •  Jorg Hoensch HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER A standard history translated from German, this book takes up with the last years of the Habsburg realm, and continues through the authoritarian regime of the interwar years and communist era, to the present. (HGR08, $51.00)
A History of Slovakia, The Struggle for Survival  •  Stanislav K. Kirschbaum HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES A solid history of Slovakia tracing the nation's roots from the first arrival on the Danubian Plain to Slovakia's declaration of independence in 1993. Slovak-leaning in perspective, this book includes good discussions of the Communist period and Slovakia's relationships with Hungary and the Czechs. The author, born in Bratislava and raised in Canada, is a professor at York University in Toronto. (EUR93, $19.95)
Homage to the Eighth District, Tales from Budapest  •  Giorgio Pressburger  •  Nicola Pressburger LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 134 PAGES These 10 stories all take place in the Jewish quarter of Budapest during the middle of the 20th century. The brothers Pressburger paint a gloomy portrait of the ghetto and its Jewish residents, suffering at the hands of fascist and communist powers. What finally emerges, though, is a tribute to resilient people living in the harshest of conditions. (HGR23, $9.95)
Hungarian Folktales, the Art of Zsuzsanna Palko  •  Zsuzsanna Palko  •  Linda Degh LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER A collection of folktales told in the late 1940s and early 1950s by Palko, a well known Hungarian storyteller. Annotations and an essay on the tales by scholar Linda Degh. (HGR16, $25.00)
Hungarian Practical Dictionary, Hungarian-English English-Hungarian  •  Eva Szabo REFERENCE •  2005 •  PAPER A convenient bilingual dictionary. (HGR44, $24.95)
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Reform, Revolt and Repression 1953 - 1963  •  Gyorgy Litvan  •  Janos M. Bak  •  Lyman H. Legters HISTORY •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 248 PAGES The first account of the Hugarian Revolution to include materials made available only after the Soviet Union disolved, including eyewitness acounts, domestic and foreign archival information, and private papers. (HGR07, $96.33)
Hungary Map  •  HEMA Maps MAP A map of Hungary at a scale of 1:300,000. (HGR14, $12.95)
An Illustrated History of the First World War  •  John Keegan HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 448 PAGES • COMING IN An illustrated edition of Keegan's outstanding history of the Great War, considerably enhanced by his selection of almost 500 photographs, maps, drawings and illustrations. The visuals clarify and augment his wide-ranging narrative of the origins, battles and consequences of WWI. (WAR16, $50.00)
The Improbable Voyage  •  Tristan Jones TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 332 PAGES A personable sailor's yarn of a tough trip by water across Europe along the Rhine and Danube to the Black Sea. Jones, an inveterate Welsh sailor, adventurer and storyteller, tackles not only sailing, but also the people, politics and flavor of Eastern Europe circa 1985. Just in case, he flies the Red Ensign, the Stars and Stripes, and the Red Dragon of Wales. This is the middle book in a series of three travel books that charts his 2,000-mile voyage across Europe on his on his 38-foot trimaran Outward Leg. (EUR156, $16.50)
Inventing Eastern Europe, The Map of Civilization on the Mind of Enlightenment  •  Larry Wolff HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 419 PAGES A scholarly analysis and history of European geopolitics during the Age of Enlightenment. The author, a professor of history, looks back to Rousseau, Voltaire and Western (mis)perceptions of Eastern Europe during the late 18th century. With chapters on 18th-century literature, fantasy and folklore, travelers and voyages. Recommended for intellectually minded travelers with a serious interest in geography, this book sheds light on widely shared conventions about Eastern Europe. (EUR34, $29.95)
The Joke  •  Milan Kundera LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES In this novel a student in Communist Czechoslovakia is imprisoned when he sends a postcard to his girlfriend -- "Optimism is the opium of the masses!…Long live Trotsky!" Years later, he comes up with a plan for revenge. (CZH36, $13.95)
Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafes of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague  •  Rick Rodgers FOOD •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 232 PAGES A sumptuous presentation of the elegant desserts and romantic cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. (EUR206, $37.50)
Kafka's Milena  •  Jane Cerna  •  A. G. Brain  •  George Gibian BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1993 •  PAPER  • 205 PAGES Milena, who kept a long-term correspondence with Franz Kafka, was a legend a legend and household name in 1930s Prague. This is her biography, as written by her daughter. (CZH35, $18.00)
Kafka's Prague, A Travel Reader  •  Klaus Wagenbach GUIDEBOOK •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 125 PAGES Cleverly organized as a city guide, this handsome volume takes the reader on a tour of Kafka's Prague. With period photos, memoirs and excepts from his writings, the Kafka lover or anyone interested in turn-of-the-century Prague will find this book a fascinating companion. Opening with a biography of the famous Czech author, the subsequent chapters are designed to give the reader a personal walking tour through the Prague Kafka knew best. An unusual alternative to the standard tour book format. (CZH03, $21.95)
Knopf Guide Budapest  •  Knopf Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER A sumptuously illustrated, handsome guide to Budapest and surroundings with an excellent overview of culture, history and attractions. (HGR28, $25.00)
Living in Freedom. The New Prague  •  Mark Sommer TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 261 PAGES Based on Sommers's visits to Prague both before and after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, this portrait blends history, travel narrative and political commentary. (CZH26, $11.95)
Lonely Planet Central Europe  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 640 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Central Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. It is a compact overview of the region, especially appropriate for the independent-minded traveler visiting several countries. With local and regional maps, a section of color photographs, and information on history, culture and attractions. (EUR94, $28.99)
Lonely Planet Czech and Slovak Republics  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 488 PAGES In the hallmark Lonely Planet style, this practical guide to the Czech Republic and Slovakia features 95 maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With color photographs and excellent travel information. (CZH07, $22.99)
Lonely Planet Prague  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 282 PAGES A practical comprehensive guide to the city in the hallmark Lonely planet style. (CZH52, $18.99)
Mammals of Europe  •  Priscilla Barrett  •  David W. MacDonald FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Published by Princeton, this is a field guide to land and marine mammals throughout Europe, both endemic and introduced. With more than 600 color illustrations of over 200 mammals, it's a comprehensive handbook, with detailed descriptions, range maps and commentary on behavior. (FG61, $34.95)
Masquerade, Dancing Around Death in Nazi Occupied Hungary  •  Tividar Soros BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Once you know that Mr. Soros is the father of philanthropist George Soros, you might guess that his family survives the Holocaust even before reading this optimistic memoir. Tividar Soros was a lawyer in Budapest, and once the fascists took over he forged fake papers for his family and had them disperse into the countryside, where they all miraculously survived. That they do so is a tribute to the elder Soros' resourcefulness and skill. Despite his upbeat leanings, though, even he admits that "luck must be on your side." (HGR40, $13.95)
Memoirs of an Anti-Semite, A Novel in Five Stories  •  Gregor Von Rezzori LITERATURE •  1991 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Set against a backdrop of Central Europe between the wars, these five connected stories follow the fate of a young Romanian -- and his tense, vacillating relationship with Jews (including his own Jewish wife). Originally serialized in the New Yorker in 1969, it's a brilliant, disturbing book. Born in Bukovina in the Capathian mountains, Rezzori's many novels and essays address shifting notions of identity in Central Europe since WWI. (CEU27, $19.00)
National Geographic Traveler, Prague and The Czech Republic  •  Stephen Brook GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the area's artistic, historical and cultural landmarks, complete with detailed maps and full-color photos. (CZH55, $25.95)
Neither Here Nor There, Travels in Europe  •  Bill Bryson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 254 PAGES An American expatriate in London, Bryson deploys his cranky humor in this romp through European capitals. While he doesn't do much to displace national stereotypes, this book is nonetheless great fun to read and insightful on the quirks of character. (EUR25, $14.95)
Open Letters, Selected Writings: 1965 - 1990  •  Vaclav Havel  •  Paul Wilson HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 405 PAGES This inspired anthology of writings by the Czech poet-president Vaclav Havel collects 25 essays, letters and speeches written between 1965 and 1990. The famous "Dear Mr. Husak" and "Power of the Powerless," writings that directly influenced the Polish Solidarity movement, are included along with a wealth of other works of inspiration. A moving record of an important contemporary reformer and the thoughts that fueled a revolution. (CZH06, $15.95)
The Painted Bird  •  Jerzy Kosinski LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Based on much of the author's own experiences in World War II Poland, "The Painted Bird" won international recognition for Jerzy Kosinski. The often disturbing account of a young Jewish boy's journey through rural Poland as he tries to evade everyone from SS officers to Anti-Semitic Polish peasants will leave an indelible impression. A powerful, frankly disturbing account of the cruelty of war. (PLD07, $14.00)
The Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe  •  Dennis Hupchick  •  Harold Cox HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 130 PAGES • COMING IN The changing borders and complex history of Eastern Europe as told through 52 maps and accompanying essays, organized chronologically. An excellent reference, the book shows the rise of Poland, changing borders of the Ottoman Empire, Hapsburgs and fate of Yugoslavia in admirable clarity. (EUR138, $19.95)
Pilgrimages, The Great Adventure of the Middle Ages  •  John Ure HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES (EUR202, $15.95)
Prague Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP An easy-to-use, laminated, detailed map of the center of Prague at a scale of 1:10,000. The city's major attractions are clearly indicated and a street index is included. (CZH13, $7.95)
Prague, The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437  •  Barb Boehm ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  HARD COVER The extravagantly produced companion volume to the exhibition (organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art) on the art and culture of late medieval Prague. With maps, succinct introductory essays and a 200-page section of color photographs. (EUR207, $65.00)
The Radetzky March  •  Joseph Roth  •  Joachim Neugroschel LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 331 PAGES First published in 1932, this powerful novel spins a tale of three generations of the Trotta family set against the waning days of the Habsburg Empire. A neglected masterpiece, this translation captures the historical sweep, close observations and irony of the German original. (AST17, $16.95)
Return to Diversity: A Political History of East Central Europe Since World War II  •  Joseph Rothschild HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 338 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE An opinionated, well-written and clear political history of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania since WWII, completely revised for this third edition to reflect post-Soviet realities. (EUR31, $34.95)
Rick Steves' French, Italian & German Phrase Book & Dictionary  •  Rick Steves LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A compact phrase book for travelers, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary. French, German and Italian phrases are side-by-side on the page so that you can pick and choose depending on the situation. This is no dry litany but instead peppered with humor and Rick Steves' insider insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world. (EUR142, $9.95)
Rough Guide Hungary  •  Rough Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A compact, authoritative guide to Hungary, its history, culture and attractions with good local maps. Most of the book is devoted to detailed recommendations for excursions throughout the country, covering in detail both popular and remote destinations. (HGR31, $19.99)
Rough Guide Prague  •  Rob Humphreys  •  David Charap GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 348 PAGES A no-nonsense, opinionated travel guide to Prague aimed at independent-minded travelers. It includes maps, a good cultural and historical overview and a great bibliography. (CZH21, $18.99)
Rudolf II and Prague, The Court and the City  •  Jaroslava Hausenblasova  •  Eliska Fucikova  •  James M. Bradburne  •  Beket Bukovinska HISTORY •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 784 PAGES Published in conjunction with a 1996 exhibition, this is an extensive survey of the art, music and science in Prague that was encouraged by the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. This oversize book contains 1,500 illustrations, 250 of which are in color. (CZH20, $75.00)
Slovak Republic Map  •  Freytag & Berndt MAP A colorful, detailed map of Slovakia at a scale of 1:200,000. (CEU19, $12.95)
The Sons: The Judgement, the Stoker, the Metamorphosis, and Letter to His Father  •  Franz Kafka LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A trio of Kafka's well-known short tales of family tragedy, presented together (as he originally envisioned them) along with a letter to his father. (CEU18, $11.95)
Summer Meditations  •  Vaclav Havel  •  Paul Wilson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1993 •  PAPER  • 180 PAGES The playwright-cum-statesman exhibits his intellectual and moral gravitas in this collection of thoughts on such topics as the responsibilities of independence, the moral foundation of society, and the future of the Czech Republic. (CZH33, $13.00)
Thunder at Twilight, Vienna 1913-1914  •  Frederic Morton HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A portrait of the city on the brink of World War by the author of Vienna, A Nervous Splendor. (AST67, $18.95)
Time Out Budapest  •  Time Out GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Compact and up-to-date, this is an outstanding guide for where to go and what to do in Budapest. With maps and introductory chapters on culture and history. (HGR09, $19.95)
Travelers' Tales, A Woman's Europe  •  Marybeth Bond  •  Mary Morris ANTHOLOGY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES This entertaining collection depicts Europe through the eyes of a diverse group of women writers, including Frances Mayes, Jan Morris and Mary Morris. These humorous and well-written true stories capture the misadventures, discoveries and slices of life that the continent (and travel!) has to offer. (EUR160, $17.95)
The Trial, A New Translation Based on the Restored Text  •  Franz Kafka  •  Breon Mitchell LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 281 PAGES Kafka's chilling novel of an unjust trial in a totalitarian state, in which the defendant is never told who has charged him, or why. (CZH46, $13.50)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being  •  Milan Kundera LITERATURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 331 PAGES The 20th anniversary edition of Kundera's celebrated novel, praised for its meditations on the nature of men and women, and its portrayal of life in Prague under Communism. (CZH62, $23.95)
The Walker's Literary Companion  •  Robert Gilbert  •  Anne Wallace  •  Jeffrey Robinson ANTHOLOGY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A diverse sampling of literature on the pleasures of walking, representing philosophers, naturalists, outcasts, athletes and intellectuals from Plato to Frank O'Hara. (WLK08, $24.00)
Walking  •  Henry David Thoreau REFERENCE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 92 PAGES You may want to carry this small volume in your daypack for inspiration. In it, Thoreau offers his meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel. (WLK04, $9.95)
Western Czech Republic Map  •  Ravenstein Maps MAP A detailed map (scale 1:200,000) of the western part of the Czech Republic. Includes Prague. (CZH24, $12.95)
Woman from Hamburg And Other True Stories  •  Hanna Krall  •  Madeline G. Levine BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A journalist from Warsaw born in 1937, Krall reveals the lives and strange trajectories of her compatriots in these stories, profiles and interviews of survivors of WWII. (PLD49, $14.95)
A World Lit Only By Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Portrait of an Age  •  William Manchester HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 322 PAGES In this wide-ranging study, Manchester evokes in vivid detail the great figures and daily life of the 16th century, with information on Henry VIII, Magellan, Borgia, da Vinci and Martin Luther. This is his 18th book and Manchester knows how to tell a great story. It's divided into three sections: Renaissance, Reformation and Discovery. (EUR06, $15.99)
Yiddish Folktales  •  Beatrice Weinreich LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 413 PAGES A collection of 178 Yiddish tales, many just a paragraph or two, gathered from throughout Eastern Europe as part of a project by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in the 1920s and 30s. (CEU33, $18.00)