Reading for the Road: The Best Books About the Czech Republic

At B&amp;R most of us answer to many names (wanderers,&nbsp;bon vivants, students of life) but first and foremost, we’re a group of dedicated travellers.That’s why we love compiling&nbsp;reading lists&nbsp;that include the books — from novels to memoirs, and everything in between — that have really opened up our favourite regions.In this post we’ll round up a few of our favourite books about the Czech Republic, where golden spires extend from buildings, fairytale castles dot the land and you have to pause to wonder if you’re in&nbsp;fantasy or reality.<h2>Must-Read Books About the Czech Republic</h2><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2pP32L9">Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague</a></h3>By Heda Margolius KovalyHeda Margolius Kovály (1919–2010) endured both the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz and the brutality of Czechoslovakia’s postwar Stalinist government. Her husband, after surviving Dachau and Auschwitz and becoming Czechoslovakia’s deputy minister of foreign trade, was convicted of conspiracy in the infamous 1952 Slansky trial and then executed. Her clear-eyed memoir of her life during those horrific days is resonant with lyricism.<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2E5vdd8">Dreams of a Great Small Nation</a></h3>By Kevin J McNamaraIn 1917, two empires that had dominated much of Europe and Asia teetered on the edge of the abyss, exhausted by the ruinous cost, in blood and treasure, of the First World War. As Imperial Russia and Habsburg-ruled Austria-Hungary began to succumb, a small group of Czech and Slovak combat veterans stranded in Siberia saw an opportunity to realize their long-held dream of independence.<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2IfKKK7">Prague in Black and Gold: The History of a City</a></h3>By Peter DemetzFrom the Velvet Revolution to the disturbing world of Franz Kafka, from the devastation of the Thirty Years War to the musical elegance of Mozart and Dvorak, Prague is steeped in a wealth of history and culture. Prague in Black and Gold is a first class history of this unique city.<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2GEii7d">Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War</a></h3>By Madeleine AlbrightDrawing on her own memory, her parents’ written reflections, interviews with contemporaries and newly-available documents, former US Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Albright recounts a tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring.<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2pR6SDy">Gottland: Mostly True Stories from Half of Czechoslovakia</a></h3>By Mariusz SzczygielBased on meticulous research and hundreds of interviews with everyone from filmmakers to writers to pop stars to ordinary citizens, Gottland is a kaleidoscopic portrait of a resilient people living through difficult and often bizarre times — equally funny, disturbing, stirring and absurd . . . in a word, Kafkaesque.&nbsp;Take the story from the page into real life on a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/europe/czech-republic">bespoke trip</a> to the Czech Republic. From golden spires to fairytale castles overlooking the land, this region is like a storybook come to life.

Discover the best books about the Czech Republic—from classic novels and memoirs to modern stories that explore its history, culture, and identity.

Best Books About the Czech Republic | Must-Read Literature & History

Czech Republic

From the sculpted buildings covered in golden spires to fairytale castles overlooking the land, exploring this region seems more like a storybook come to life than reality. Visit towns seemingly frozen in time, among lush forests, winding rivers and vineyards of extraordinary beauty. We’ll open our arms to the people and their traditions as they open theirs to us, all the time absorbing the deep, dense layers of humanity that have accumulated here over the centuries.

From Prague’s spires to Bohemian countryside

Pedal or walk through Prague and Bohemia's castles on a luxury small group or private tour. Boutique hotels, exceptional wine, and real insider access.

Luxury Biking, Hiking, & Private Tours in Czech Republic

Historic Sites

Authentic Food

Vibrant Culture

The Czech Republic looks like a fairytale—and feels like a night on the town. Ride past castles that out-drama Netflix, roam storybook towns like Český Krumlov and get charmingly lost in Prague’s spire-studded skyline. From Bohemia to Moravia, history’s everywhere—and so is the beer. Cold, local and brewed to pair perfectly with your next adventure.

Of castles and palaces, the Czech Republic is a historian's fairy tale

Bike from Prague's Gothic skyline to Bohemian castle estates on a tailor-made itinerary. 5+ days of history, cycling and Czech countryside, just for you.

Czech Republic Bespoke | Butterfield & Robinson

Bike from Prague’s Bohemian chic to Vienna’s stately elegance. Witness our friend Vladimir and his team show off their spectacular skills in a private falconry show. Add vineyard cycling, towering castles and breathtaking monasteries (one is our hotel). Finish off at the best hotel in Vienna, the Hotel Sacher. Sweet dreams.

Two capitals with endless charms

Our guide Marie knows all about the Velvet Revolution – she was there. Get the inside scoop over drinks. Bike from Prague’s Bohemian chic to Vienna’s stately elegance. Add vineyard cycling, towering castles, hilltop monasteries (one is our hotel), and dinner at the legendary Landhaus Bacher. Finish off at the best hotel in Vienna, the Hotel Sacher. Sweet dreams.

We’ve plotted the perfect course from one energetic European gem to another, and we’re the only ones riding between them. Along the way, sink neck deep into the history of UNESCO Dresden, spend not one night but two enjoying the serene bike paths of the Spreewald (and sumptuous spa of our hotel), then cap it off by riding to the door of our hotel in the city of Spires.