For the Love of Prague: The True Love Story of the Only Free American in Prague During 30 Years of Communism - Softcover

Deitch, Gene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 8023827499 ISBN 13: 9788023827491

Publisher: Imprint unknown, 1998

Synopsis

For The Love of Prague is the true love story of the only free American continuously living in Prague during 30 years of the communist regime, yet was free of its control, free to travel in and out of the iron curtain at will, and managed a completely independent career and lovc of an astounding Czech woman. The book could only be written after the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989. Before that, the author's life was a delicate and amazing tight wire act.

About this title

Review:

"For The Love of Prague is a spicy, funny memoir." -- The New York Times

"This book is more than an eye-witness account. For The Love of Prague is a great love story!" -- The Prague Post

From the Author:

Author's note: From the first and second editions of this book, I have been blessed with hundreds of loving letters. As this book is about love - and written for love - these letters and reviews are my payment!

"Hi - Just a quick note to say thanks For the Love of Prague. What a beautiful book! I must say it is helping me understand why it is the way it is here. No other book has given me the perspective about the Czech way of life, way of thinking, acting, doing, etc. a wonderful story and lives full of rich experiences and love. Thanks for the inspiration. Your stories mean a lot to me - on Saturday, when I finished reading your book, I had so many emotional reactions. I was sad that I finished the book...it had become my comforting friend over the past couple of weeks. I relished coming home and reading and getting more educated in the most interesting way. I was also feeling very safe -somehow I felt like I would muddle through the emotional challenges I'm dealing with about living in a new place and getting used to everything new. I have a calendar of quotes; today the quote was 'Our illusions of separation disappear when we hear stories of another's struggles or discoveries.' Your book helped me feel less separate here." - Regina Miller, (upon moving to work in Prague.)

"The guy is so young that it's hard to think of him as 'The Oldest American in Prague.' But Gene Deitch writes with a passion of a young man in love - with life in Prague, with the woman who risked everything for him, and like her husband, won the game of life despite communism, a Soviet invasion, and the everyday hassles and shortages of living behind the iron curtain. But this book is more than an eye-witness account. For The Love of Prague is a great love story!" Alan Levy, editor-in-chief, The Prague Post

"At the height of the Cold War, hundreds of cartoons shown in the United States were actually made in communist Czechoslovakia episodes of Tom & Jerry, Krazy Kat, and Popeye, as well as animated versions of classic children's books like Madeline and In The Night Kitchen straight from the animation studios of Prague. Gene Deitch tells It all in his spicy, funny memoir, "For The Love of Prague." Jen Nessel, , The New York Times, Sunday Arts&Leisure section. August 9,1998

"This is a comic autobiographical account of a '10-day business trip' made by a writer-director of animated films to Prague Czechoslo-vakia in the 1950's which evolved into a 38-year-long residency in that country. Humorous anecdotes detail the author's struggle to adapt to the strange - absurd and difficult - conditions during 30 years of the communist regime, as well as his profound attachment to his beloved Zdenka and the many friends he has made there. The story is told with verve and enthusiasm, and Deitch's spirit is infectious. His funny, clever, sometime naive quality is almost invariably endearing and the characters generally so fetching that you want to keep reading." - Harriet Herbst, reviewer.

"I loved the book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It's a treasure!" Prof. Irma Shiphra Delson,

"I just finished reading your book "For the Love of Prague." This is the best book I have ever read about the conditions in Czechoslovakia during the Communist Regime." Josef Sulz. St.Louis, MO

"I have just finished reading your book 'For the Love of Prague'. Perhaps I should say I devoured it!! It is without doubt one of the most fascinating & beautiful books I've read in years. I'm definitely going to see the Czechs & Prague very differently next time I visit." Regards, Robert Mitchell (living in grey London)

"Deitch is a raconteur of the highest order!" - Laura Conway, The Prague Post

"I just finished For The Love of Prague after smiling, often laughing out loud, sometimes becoming teary as you especially touched me - always reacting my way through it. I kept visualizing the two of you in Prague." -Dr. Elaine Marshack, New York

"I enjoyed every word of your book! It brought back memories of my visit to Prague during the memorable time in December 1989" -Cora W. Kenney

"I bought your book yesterday evening (yes, yesterday) and could not put it down until I was finished reading it at about 8 o'clock this morning. I have about 12 books waiting to be read and yours jumped to the top of the list! To find a book like yours, almost entirely without hate, was a fantastic find for me. Fantastic!" -Geoff Washburn.

"I love your book. By now I think I have it all memorized, I have read it so many times. I just finished it again from cover to cover. You are a wonderful writer. It is a beautiful love poem to Prague." -Ira Stadlen, NY

"Hello from Leicester, England. I was in the Golden City a couple of weeks ago and bought your book 'For The Love Of Prague'. Congratulations on penning such a rollicking read I was totally absorbed from the first page!"-Keith Daddley.

"Your book is a personal, human story that connects with the history of the times. I feel your story is a strong and engrossing one. I found your report on the Velvet Revolution, from its antecedents up to victory and afterward, thrilling to follow, and I think other readers will feel the same. All in all, well done!" -Lawrence Ravitz

"...the book will be an interesting account of those years for people who wonder what it was like" -Paul Fierlinger, film animator; estranged son and nephew of high Czechoslovak Communist officials, suffered under the regime until he managed to escape to America. (His story is told in Chapter 57)

"...your book, "For The Love of Prague," combines the rough allure of a good thriller with the sensitivity of a work of art. I know good material when I see it!"

Dr. Sam Vaknin, Capital Markets Institute Ltd.

"My name is Michel Jacques, and I am a French Canadian living in Montreal. I just want to tell you that I really enjoyed your book, and it helped me better understand the Czech mentality."

"Dear Gene Deitch, Greetings from the island of Mauritius. I just returned from Prague with a copy of your book and found it to be a great read."

Hello, Gene: I feel I already know you and Zdenka because I've read your entrancing book, "For the Love of Prague."

About this edition

• Publisher: Imprint unknown
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 8023827499
• ISBN 13: 9788023827491
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 318