Puppets of Prague

Gripping 20th Century Historical Fiction

Can the dream of freedom overcome fear and oppression?
In this novel spanning Prague’s tumultuous twentieth century, friendships and marriages are tested to the limit.
In the summer of 1914, young love beckons and the future seems bright for three friends as they reach adulthood, but the dark clouds of war throw into stark relief the differences between them which had never mattered before.
From World War One and the heady days of liberty which follow, to Nazi occupation during World War Two, and afterwards Communist dictatorship, life threatening risks must be taken.
Friends and families are torn apart by the choices they make, conflict and hardship bringing out both the good and the bad, and in unexpected ways.
A moving story set in one of the world’s most enchanting and fascinating cities. From the author of 'The Shadows of Seville' and 'Betrayal in Venice'.

The HF aspects of this book from preWWII to postWWII and subsequent fall of Communism were interesting.

I was actually in Prague AND at Terezin when this book came up on my Audible feed. Tell me our phones don’t stalk us!!! Why not listen to a free book on a beautiful city and hear another take on history? My own father was a German POW held in a prison camp near Auschwitz so WWII HF is very important to me as a way to honor him and his selfless sacrifice. Learning more about pre and post WWII Czechoslovakia and its subsequent years under Communist rule was interesting. I had the opportunity to visit Prague 50 years ago when it was still part of the Communist Bloc…so austere then compared to the beautifully vibrant city Prague is now. Wonderful! The Allies did no favors to many Eastern European countries when they gave them to the Russians as part of the war settlements. My father…”liberated” by the Russians three days after they liberated Auschwitz & “held captive” by them for 4 more months before they released him to the Americans to return to the US, told my grandparents “we will be enemies with Russia someday soon. They are evil
people who eat their own.” How prophetic you were, Daddy, how prophetic you were…

Simple Czechoslovakia historical fiction with BAD virtual narration

I enjoyed the story because it educated me in Czechia’s history, at least up til 1990. I thought it kinda moved fast and it was very simple, but it would have been too enormous if the author tried to cover the same amount of time and actually got into it. It felt very gloss along the top of the story.

The last 30 min or so (prob more since I listen to it somewhat sped up) is literally just “other books by this author” and a short description of each book.

Finally and most importantly, the virtual voice is awful. Stalin was pronounced differently almost every time. There were pauses where there shouldn’t be and no pauses where there should be. The “voice” it gave Stephen/Stefan (also pronounced differently throughout) was sometimes mid century American for absolutely no reason.

If I had spent a credit or actual money on it, I would be livid. As it was free, I can’t really complain other than I wish it was better because it had good bones, just lacked substance and an actual narrator.