From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk : a dictionary of Czech popular culture

It seeks to emphasize the importance of popular culture and the wealth of knowledge that can be gained through an analysis of the daily lives and practices of individuals. This book serves as an introduction to Czech popular culture. The six hundred entries are cross-referenced and allow readers to pursue particular topics in greater depth. 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.--book Jacket. By Andrew Roberts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 197) And Index. Roberts'book follows in the tradition of recent scholarship that seeks to emphasize the importance of popular culture and the wealth of knowledge that can be gained through an analysis of the daily lives and practices of individuals. Focusing on popular songs, movie stars, famous athletes, traditional dishes, and children's games that are second nature to every Czech, Roberts'work serves as an introduction to Czech popular culture. This dictionary is a sizeable achievement as it offers an English readership an invaluable source of information to a rich body of material that has thus far remained ephemeral. The six hundred entries are cross-referenced and allow readers to pursue particular topics in greater depth. Written in a readable style this work is easily accessible to a wide readership. Roberts' book follows in the tradition of recent scholarship that seeks to emphasize the importance of popular culture and the wealth of knowledge that can be gained through an analysis of the daily lives and practices of individuals. Focusing on popular songs, movie stars, famous athletes, traditional dishes, and children's games that are second nature to every Czech, Roberts' work serves as an introduction to Czech popular culture. This dictionary is a sizeable achievement as it offers an English readership an invaluable source of information to a rich body of material that has thus far remained ephemeral. The six hundred entries are crossreferenced and allow readers to pursue particular topics in greater depth. Written in a readable style this work is easily accessible to a wide readership Table of Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 A Short Guide to Czech Pronunciation......Page 13 A Brief Chronology of Czech History......Page 14 A......Page 16 B......Page 18 C......Page 30 D......Page 46 E......Page 54 F......Page 56 G......Page 62 H......Page 68 I......Page 78 J......Page 80 K......Page 90 L......Page 104 M......Page 114 N......Page 124 O......Page 132 P......Page 136 R......Page 154 S......Page 164 T......Page 184 U......Page 188 W......Page 190 Z......Page 202 List of Tables......Page 210 Bibliography......Page 212 C......Page 214 E......Page 216 F......Page 217 H......Page 218 M......Page 219 S......Page 221 T......Page 222 Emphasizing the importance of popular culture and the wealth of knowledge that can be gained through an analysis of the daily lives and practices of individuals, this book serves as an introduction to Czech popular culture. It includes six hundred entries, cross-referenced to allow readers to pursue particular topics in greater depth.