Sudetenland. Paradise Lost

Short stories by leading Czech writers about life in the borderlands before the Second World War

The Sudetenland is still considered a problem region strongly marked by the expulsion of its German population. What happened before the train of events in the borderlands was irretrievably derailed? Set against a backdrop of great historical events, these stories tell of boys’ adventures, grotesque and fateful first loves, an unbreakable bond with the native landscape, but also of a burning hatred fuelled by madness. They capture the intricate fates of the people of the Sudetenland and paint a vivid picture of life in the multinational borderlands.

The authors of these ten stories, which are both thematically and stylistically diverse, include such renowned names as Kateřina Tučková, Jaroslav Rudiš, Michaela Klevisová and Leoš Kyša. The narratives are enriched by impressive illustrations by Jaromír 99 inspired by period photographs and a foreword by Michal Stehlík and Martin Groman, authors of the well-known podcast Přepište dějiny [Rewriting History].

Not only is this anthology of short stories a literary testimony to the borderlands where Germans, Czechs, Jews and other nationalities lived side by side for generations, but it is also a challenge to reflect on the fragility of interpersonal coexistence in turbulent times.

Editors of Host Publishers

Germans were expelled from Bohemia after May 1945. Not only the people disappeared, but also their stories, past, legends – quite simply, their life. It was as though the Sudetenland had never belonged to the Czech Lands. The time has come to tell these people’s stories, when they can no longer do it themselves. Now it’s up to us.

Martin Groman and Michal Stehlík, hosts of the podcast Přepište dějiny [Rewriting History]

Written by:

Petra Dvořáková, Marie Hajdová, Jakuba Katalpa, Petra Klabouchová, Michaela Klevisová, Leoš Kyša, Jaroslav Rudiš, Kateřina Tučková, Michal Vrba, David Jan Žák

Illustrated by:

Jaromír 99 (b. 1963), real name Jaromír Švejdík, is a well-known musician and artist. He founded the cult band Priessnitz in 1989. With writer Jaroslav Rudiš he is co-author of the comics trilogy Alois Nebel, and he worked on the film of the same name. In 2022, he published Off-season /Mimosezóna, a collection of song lyrics and illustrations. His work includes pictures for a limited edition of the novel Bílá Voda by Kateřina Tučková. He divides his time between Prague and his native Jeseník.