Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Research for Fun

Since I'll be spending a few days there over Spring Break, I've been reading up on the history and culture of Prague. I know very little about it, but my parents gave me a nice travel guide for Christmas, and I picked up a stack of books at the library.

The best one is Prague Pictures by John Banville. It isn't so much a travel guide or a history book as it is the authors reflections on the city, his "handful of recollections, variations on a theme." The writing is beautiful and evocative, giving you a good feel for the atmosphere of the city itself. He throws in some historical tidbits to add depth and color, and gives tips on must-see places as it fits his narrative, but he mostly provides texture and feeling.

For practical purposes, I love my Eyewitness Travel Guide for Prague. I've been trying to figure out a plan for my free time in Prague...which areas of the city look the most interesting, which museums, etc.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bon voyage! I know it's the wrong language, but my knowledge of German is miniscule. I agree that the DK travel guides are the best! Have a wonderful trip!

Hannah said...

The post title caught my eye. Research is currently my pet project; I have no idea why.

I've had THREE years of high-school German from my mother, herself a native speaker, and I don't know the equivalent for "Bon voyage"! Drat.

Found your blog via Elephant's Child. I like it.