An interdisciplinary anthology that includes many primary materials never before published in English.

List of Illustrations xi
Acknowledgments xv
Guide to Pronunciation xvii
Introduction 1
I. Between Myth and History (The Premyslid Dynasty) 7
II. Navel of the Earth (Charles IV, 1316-1378) 31
III. Against Everyone (Hussite Revolution) 47
IV. Struggles for City, Court, Country (Vladislav II-Rudolph II) 67
V. Defeated Protestants, Victorious Catholics (Ferdinand II-Charles VI) 83
VI. From the Enlightenment to Romantic Nationalism (Maria Teresa-Revolution of 1848) 111
VII. Defeated Politicians, Victorious Intellectuals (1848-1867) 145
VIII. From National Self-Determination to Cosmopolitanism (1867-1918) 187
IX. The First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938) 239
X. Between Hitler and Stalin (1938-1948) 295
XI. "Ideal" Socialism (1948-1968) 335
XII. "Real" Socialism (1968-1989) 385
XIII. The Decades after the Velvet Revolution (1989-) 463
Epilogue 503
Suggestions for Further Reading 507
Acknowledgment of Copyright and Sources 521
Index 529

Jan Bažant is a senior researcher at the Institute of Philosophy in Prague. He was previously director of the Institute for Classical Studies.

Nina Bažantová is an art historian and former curator of historical textiles at the Museum of Applied Arts in Prague.

Frances Starn is a writer living in Berkeley, California.