All About Doggie and Pussycat: A Czech Classic of Children’s Literature

All About Doggie and Pussycat: How They Kept House and All Sorts of Other Things As Well (Czech: Povídání o pejskovi a kočičce: Jak spolu hospodařili a ještě o všelijakých jiných věcech) is a charming Czech children’s book about a dog and a cat who live together in a house and wish to do everything...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

October 12, 2018

The Czech Cinematographer Who Shot Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a classic American film which has been preserved in the National Film Registry for being “Culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The image of Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn, standing on Fifth Avenue in a classic black dress with her hair done up and a cluster of pearls around her neck...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 21, 2018

Read This – Slovakia: The Legend of the Linden

Slovakia: The Legend of the Linden is a fully illustrated book about the folklore of the Linden tree, a beautiful tree native to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia which is also the national symbol for both lands. This beautiful book offers an in-depth history of Slovakia based around the Linden tree, or “Lípa” as...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

May 30, 2018

Old Czech Language and the National Anthem

Czech language developed at the close of the 1st millennium from common West Slavic. Until the early 20th century, it was known as Bohemian but I will refer to it as old Czech language in this post. I wanted you to hear a wonderful example of old Czech language, at least as old an example...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, History, LIFESTYLE, Movies, NOSTALGIA

May 28, 2018

The Tragic 1895 Quicksand Disaster at the Town of Most

Imagine walking with your family, coming home from market when suddenly the buildings around you begin to crumble and the earth begins to swallow the people right in front of you. That is exactly what occurred in 1895 in a city called Most in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) in the worst quicksand disaster in...

History, Movies, NOSTALGIA

May 27, 2018

Resistance Has a Code Name: Operation Anthropoid

Being May 27th, we are looking at an evil monster from history known as the Butcher of Prague and the various films made about Operation Anthropoid, the plot to kill him in Czechoslovakia. Operation Anthropoid, with its course and consequences, is the most heroic and tragic story in the modern Czech history. Warrant Officer Jozef Gabčík (Slovak)...

History, Movies

May 25, 2018

In Memory of Award Winning Czech Director Miloš Forman

Miloš Forman, the most successful Czech-American filmmaker and scriptwriter, who lived in the US since 1968, a holder of two Oscars for the best directions, three Golden Globe awards and BAFTA prizes in the same category, died on Friday, April 13, 2018, in a hospital in Danbury, Conn. He was 86. He has been SVU...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, PEOPLE

April 29, 2018

While You Are Sleeping (Zatím co ty spíš) by Miroslav Černý

Today I am sharing one of my most favorite Czech songs entitled Zatím co ty spíš (While You Are Sleeping) by Miroslav Černý. I have yet to listen to this song without crying! Once you read the lyrics below (in both Czech and my translation to English), you will understand why! Unfortunately, I cannot locate a...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

Býchory_Chateau_aka_Castle_of_the_Stradivarius_Violin

April 23, 2018

Býchory Chateau, Castle of the Stradivarius Violin and Jan Kubelík

Near the city of Kolín lies a small village known as Býchory (only 7 km northeast). In this village, sits a unique a Neo-Gothic castle chateau estate. Today we are going to call the Býchory chateau, the castle of the Stradivarius violin because it was once owned by world famous Bohemian violinist and composer, Jan Evangelista Kubelík. Jan Kubelík was...

Bohemians, Czech Republic, ENTERTAINMENT, History, Music

April 18, 2018

Listen to This: Nové Struny To Ti Rikám Já

Nové Struny are a Czech band made up of a younger generation of men who bringing back classic Czech tramp and swing music with a modern spin. Every Czech knows the nostalgic country sound that awoke and inspired feelings of freedom and patriotism back in the communist era. This campfire music, known as “Tramp music”...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

April 6, 2018

The Story Behind The Famous Czech Opera Rusalka

The most popular and successful Czech opera, Rusalka, tells the story of an immortal water nymph from Slavic Mythology who falls in love with a prince and yearns to become human. It is a sad and touching fairy tale which contains many similarities to Undine by German poet Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué and The...

ENTERTAINMENT, Theater

March 24, 2018

Czech Animation Master Jiří Trnka Documentary

Today we are sharing a short twelve minute documentary which will educate you on the famous Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. A man who some believe was better than Walt Disney at telling a tale and a man who is known as one of the Czech Republic’s greatest animators, puppeteers, illustrators and story...

Bohemians, Childrens Books, Movies, PEOPLE

March 5, 2018

Vintage Czech Songbook Covers and Their Lovely Art

Czech songbook covers have a very special place in my heart because of the artwork which is always apparent. Be it the drawing or illustration or the distinctly Czech layout of text, I feel like each one is a unique treasure. Today I am sharing some of my personal favorites, and where possible, links to...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music, Time Warp

February 28, 2018

Watch Viktor Polesný’s Murder in Polna

Zločin v Polné, or as it is more commonly known in English, Murder in Polna is a excellent two part film which follows the story of and deals with the Hilsner Affair. On an Easter Sunday in 1899, a nineteen year old seamstress named Anežka Hrůzová was found dead between the two towns of Věžníček, and Polná....

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

February 26, 2018

Czech Opera and Operetta Diva Jarmila Kšírová

The lovely Jarmila Kšírová was a very talented Czech Opera and Operetta diva. She was born December 29, 1910 in Prague and died on November 27, 1983 in East Berlin. With her singing talent and natural beauty, she reaped success all over Europe. Like many other gorgeous Czech women, her natural beauty and attractiveness is...

Music, PEOPLE, Women

February 22, 2018

The Wonderful Talent of the Prague Cello Quartet

A very talented band of 4 professional cellists, prize winners of many international competitions – the Prague Cello Quartet consists of members Jan Zvěřina, Jan Zemen, Petr Špaček, and Ivan Vokáč. We first discovered them when we were working on the 2Cellos fan book (Cellogirls) and we found them to be just as amazing and interesting!...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music