Time's Magpie

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Sometimes a city can resemble a bird, much like a magpie that collects eclectic treasures to adorn its nest. Prague embodies this idea, retaining fragments from various regimes and centuries, creating a landscape of exquisite yet bizarre contrasts. Its personality is revealed not only through its stunning beauty but also through overlooked details. Acclaimed author Myla Goldberg, a former expat, brings this unforgettable place to life with her unique voice and exhilarating prose. Goldberg lived in Prague during 1993, as the city began its Westernization, balancing a past it sought to shed with a future it was eager to embrace. Returning in 2003, she observed the effects of capitalism and how Prague's character had endured. In her exploration, she reveals a city where centuries-old buildings house Western values, and where generations shaped by Communism coexist with those for whom it is a fading memory. Wander through narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets to discover hidden gems often missed by tourists—such as a neighborhood transformed by the 2002 flood, an eccentric amusement park filled with Technicolor delights, and the cabinets of curiosity in Strahov Monastery, where modest displays hold extraordinary specimens. This imaginative journey uncovers the unique corners of a city grappling with its complex history.