Racconti di Mala Stranà e altre storie praghesi by Jan Neruda

 Racconti di Mala Stranà e altre storie praghesi by Jan Neruda

is a book that you must read! I personally visited Prague in 1989 and I left there a big portion of my heart. There was still the Communism although ferments would have decleared the dead of that system pretty soon.

Prague is sophisticated, important, warm and aristocratic and I ate close to the Saint Charles Bridge the best ice-cream of my existence. 

Not only: in the five days I stayed there I remember I met along my way a lot of people, who, with their own characteristics are in my heart and will leave there forever. 

The white hair owner of the Beraneck; large face, intense eyes, if we wanted to change money he could be in grade, in a perfect italian of explaining to you the reasons why he couldn't change money. More than a hour of explanation; the black hair guy with the beard was more tranquil in this sense.

The old drunker man with white hair and beard sat close the Hotel Beraneck where we stayed; I offered him the hand, helping him because he had evidently fallen in on the ground because of alcohol; he was so happy, thanking me; fine again he could walk away; the young boys we met sat on a bench in the square with glasses particularly thick; the owner of the shop in Mala Stranà; old, fat he sure had strong ideas; he hated italians because he thought that we weren't good people at all and thanked Lord that nothing, nothing was published in italian in Prague; not a guide, nor a pamphlet, neither a postcard. Being old the reason of that bad mood was also the one that he couldn't serve well everyone with rapidity. I remain of the idea that he preferred other countries and other folk. His shop was immense, big, plenty of gadgets, souvenirs but as it is Mala Stranà, was magical as well.

For this reason, when I read the word Prague, I want to read everything. I requested so this book at Marsilio. I read it in a few hours.

These short tales by Jan Neruda, a journalist, and surely an observer of the human existence are little gems that will let us discover a beautiful corner of Prague: Mala Stranà.

It is maybe the most beautiful and enchanting part of Prague. The place where Kafka was born in, but also a place of suggestions. We are in the XIX century and everyone in Mala Stranà know the little miseries of everyone else. Strongly connected, merchants, shop owners wouldn't want around someone new; they could accept him but if he doesn't change the face of the place. The story of Vorel is an example, strong, of what happen if the other shop owners or people start to talk, and starting to define negatively a person and a shop. 

The poor man will live a tribulated existence the months spent in Mala Stranà concluding his existence pretty tragically. 

There were iconic people in Mala Stranà like mr Vojtisek.

He was a mendicant appreciated by everyone, loved by everyone, helped by everyone. There wasn't a person who didn't offer him food, a moment of restore or just some coins. 

But then, one day, a horrible mendicant woman, a thematic this one of women close to a devilsh nature felt in other stories and writings by Neruda, just with a tooth still in her mouth will ask him of starting a life together. Vojtisek will strongly refuse and again bad words said and spread in Mala Stranà will ruin that genuine and honest man.

Another strong short tale we see is the one about Rysanek and Schlegl. They were two...competitors. In the past they loved the same woman and then that one choose one of them, unfortunately dying for natural causes pretty soon. 

The two men developed a strong hate and they didn't never say hi to the other one when they walked along the streets of Mala Stranà. But one day, for a case, they both sat in an important, chich restaurant from 6 to 8 in the afternoon and they repeated this  cerimonial per years. They didn't speak to each other, they ignored the other one per years. This weird situation changed when one of them fell sick with a bad pneumonia...

Ruska is a disgusting lady. She loved, when a person died, to participate at funerals but all the times she didn't report any good news, just a lot of horrible gossip.

In another corner of Mala Stranà lived the son of a doctor. He was a good boy, but for some certain reasons he lost every kind of love for the existence or for people. He didn't want to be a doctor, although he studied for it, and he didn't know what to do of his existence. One day there was the celebration of a funeral and he will be helpful for resuscitating the dead person!

Again a history with the wicked evil spirit of a woman. In this case in the Tre Gigli, there is a girl who dances frenetically, then will leave for home and returning in the dancing floor will tell that someone is dead in her house, attracting a boy somewhere. 

Josef differently is an arpist. He reads a lot, what he sings and what he presents to the people are original stories, fables and tales, taken by all his readings. Being a man of peace he won't resist at a fight.

I found touching the story of a very old lady. She was a baby-sitter for the baby of her daughter and then in the afternoon when the daughter returned from work sent her in the streets for picking up pieces of papers for being, later, re-sold. Not all the time it was simple rescuing and selling pieces of paper and once she wasn't in grade to do that. Once returned home the daughter said her that she had eaten also the part of  dinner deserved to her because she didn't bring home a lot of money, but the niece will treat her granny with generosity donating her some bread. Maybe the best tale that I read!

The tale on the beer and the devotion for beer developed by people of Prague is immensely beauty like the one of the bookstore, or the one of art in Prague.

You will see: these short tales and these characters will remain with you, donating  important pearls of wisdoms about life, death, and what there is in the middle.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori