The spirit of Prague

Here, in Klima's own powerful words, is the motivation behind his writing - the necessity to bear witness to his country's turbulent history. In the title essay of this collection of essays, Klima invokes the spirit of the city that has shaped and sustained him: ironical, cultural, accustomed to adversity but full of hope. A city which has spawned and inspired Milan Kundera, Josef Skvorecky and Pavel Kohut.

Other essays deal with his childhood experience in a concentration camp, thoughts about literature and memory, and the nature and importance of honesty and hope. A penetrating interview by Philip Roth and a study of Franz Kafka, compassionate and illuminating, are also included.