This book is the story of an academic s escape from Czechoslovakia to England at the height of the Cold War. A poignant and timely reminder of the hardships and life without basic freedoms endured under Communism, the work is also a documentary of the politics, sociology, and history of those turbulent years in Europe as they influenced and restrained the life of academics under the yoke of Communism. This book stands as a reminder to a younger generation is already beginning to forget what made it imperative for so many individuals to leave their homes in Central Europe, in order to gain...

The turbulent events of World War II and the subsequent communist regime in Czechoslovakia strongly restricted Czech writers freedom of expression, but this collection shows that even in the darkest times, talented writers were alert to Czech national, literary, and Jewish undertones, and produced fresh and captivating work. This works goes on to show how, as Czech literature was developing, writers at home and in exile created diverse, yet extraordinarily interesting and commendable works. The suffering and generally adverse conditions are reflected in the works, and yet many works abound in...