New Books Network Cynthia Paces, "Prague: The Heart of Europe" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Sep 8, 2025
Cynthia Paces, a Professor of History at the College of New Jersey, unpacks the multifaceted history of Prague in her latest book. She delves into the city’s golden ages under Charles IV and Rudolf II, and the turmoil of the Hussite and Thirty Years Wars. The discussion highlights Prague’s vibrant Jewish culture, the rise of Czech nationalism, and the cultural dynamics during the World Wars and Nazi occupation. Paces also reflects on the Velvet Revolution's unique nonviolent transition and Prague's evolution into a modern European hub.
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Personal Family Link To Prague
- Cynthia Paces grew up with a direct family connection to Prague through her father and grandparents who fled after 1948 nationalization.
- She later studied in Prague after 1989 and turned that personal history into a scholarly focus on the city's diverse past.
Charles IV Transformed Prague
- Charles IV made Prague the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and founded the university which elevated the city's cultural and political importance.
- His patronage of architects and scholars put Prague on the map across Central Europe.
Longstanding Jewish Presence
- Jews appear in Prague by the 10th century and formed a continuous community centered in the Old Town from the 12th century onward.
- They served as merchants, craftsmen, and moneylenders and built the Old New Synagogue in 1270 with royal permission.
