Golem__to most he is a despicable creature from the Lord of the Rings, but actually Golem came out of the mythology of the ghettos of Prague, a mystical and menacing creature. Which is fitting since Golem like Prague posses a strange historical alchemy, a complexity that’s hard to fathom. A traveler can experience Prague, but to understand it is a different matter. There are not many good books in English about Prague and fewer great books, however one does hit the mark__Angelo Maria Repelino’s 1993 classic, Magical Prague. Repelino’s book goes far beyond being a mundane travel guide. Magical Prague is a blend of history and travelogue, combined with literary and art criticism wrapped in a personal essay. And even in translation from the Italian, it reads well. Repelino extracts from Prague, its mystery and ambiguity. He uses melodrama, ghost stories, facts, fiction and barroom tales to evoke the essence of this Bohemian capital. Prague and Repelino are perfect partners. Prague offers mystery and complexity and Repelino the skilled interpretation. Repelino he takes the reader on a “magical tour”, so to speak. Unfortunately, Magical Prague is out of print, but a used copy can be found on Amazon or in a library. So if you are interested in this part of the world, its history, people and culture, Repelino’s book is worth the read. None better.
& the Golem is a magical creature made of mud & animated by a human, in Jewish mysticism. He plays a major role in my favorite book of all time, with a section set in Prauge- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
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