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Prague Spring

By Simon Mawer
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Prague Spring by Simon Mawer, an engaging blend of historical drama and thriller, unfolds against the backdrop of the 1968 Prague Spring. The narrative follows two separate stories: British students on a road trip across Europe and two diplomats grappling with Cold War tensions in Czechoslovakia. As these seemingly distinct journeys intersect, the book explores themes of liberty, political upheaval, and human connection amidst historical events.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're captivated by historical settings, as it masterfully blends espionage with the backdrop of the Prague Spring in 1968. This thrilling narrative captures the tension and drama of a city on the brink of change, appealing to readers who love intertwining history with suspense and complex characters.

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The gripping new novel from the Booker-shortlisted author of The Glass Room and The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Prague Spring is a wonderfully atmospheric portrait of the city as well as a political and historical thriller with dashes of espionage. It is as brilliant as anything he has written, which is saying a lot. The Times

It's the summer of 1968, the year of love and hate, of Prague Spring and Cold War winter. Two English students, Ellie and James, set off to hitch-hike across Europe with no particular aim in mind but a continent, and themselves, to discover. Somewhere in southern Germany they decide, on a whim, to visit Czechoslovakia where Alexander Dubcek's 'socialism with a human face' is smiling on the world.

Meanwhile Sam Wareham, a first secretary at the British embassy in Prague, is observing developments in the country with a mixture of diplomatic cynicism and a young man's passion. In the company of Czech student Lenka Koneckova, he finds a way into the world of Czechoslovak youth, its hopes and its ideas. It seems that, for the first time, nothing is off limits behind the Iron Curtain.

Yet the wheels of politics are grinding in the background. The Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev is making demands of Dubcek and the Red Army is massed on the borders. How will the looming disaster affect those fragile lives caught up in the invasion?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Prague Spring by Simon Mawer has been praised for its exploration of fear and bravery, with the Observer highlighting Mawer's exceptional ability in capturing these themes. The Financial Times commends the book for being an immensely rewarding read and underscores Mawer's stature as a truly great contemporary writer.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349143309

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 May 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Abacus

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 320g

Pages: 400

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About the Author

Simon Mawer was born in 1948 in England, and spent his childhood there, in Cyprus and in Malta. He then moved to Italy, where he and his family lived for more than thirty years while he taught at the British International School in Rome. He and his wife currently divide their time between Italy and Hastings. Simon Mawer is the author of several novels including the Man Booker shortlisted The Glass Room, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, Tightrope and Prague Spring.

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