Alena Ježková gathers twenty-two legends attached to castles, towns, monasteries and landscapes across Bohemia.

Foundings, executions, miraculous discoveries, robber bands, noble betrayals, alchemists and apparitions all throughout. Český Krumlov, Hluboká, Kutná Hora and other sites all as accumulations of remembered violence, faith, desire and invention.

Originally drawn from Ježková’s work with Czech legends, this English-language edition is translated by Martin Tharp and illustrated throughout by Zdenka Krejčová. The illustrations and map give it something of the feel of an old regional storybook, while the text sits intriguingly between folklore collection, cultural history and illustrated travel writing. Beautiful object for those interested in Central European folklore, place-memory and the point where history starts acquiring ghosts. Ježková’s own bibliography confirms the book was published by Práh in 2007, with Krejčová’s illustrations; bibliographic records identify Tharp as translator.

Edition / Condition: Práh, Prague, 2007. First edition. English-language hardcover. Translated by Martin Tharp; illustrated by Zdenka Krejčová. Light shelf wear and rubbing to boards, with minor corner wear. Internally clean and bright; binding firm. Very good condition.