Jaroslav Rudiš will discuss his new novel, an ongoing epic story which leads the reader through the dramatic history of Central Europe.
About the Seminar
Jaroslav Rudiš takes us along on a journey of his new book Winterberg, which he is working on in Amsterdam. We take the train from Berlin to Leipzig and Dresden, from Liberec and Hradec Králové to Prague, followed by Linz and Bad Ischl to Vienna, Budapest, Graz and again to Vienna, to Zagreb and finally to Sarajevo. We will visit The Museum of Military History in Vienna, the crematorium in Liberec – the first in the Austrian Empire-, and some railway stations. We will travel through time along the old Baedeker from 1913 to the World War II and from World War I to the war between Austria and Prussia in 1866. Here, on the battlefields in Bohemia nearby Hradec Králové, also known as Königgrätz, his tragicomic novel about two old men obsessed with trains and history begins. It’s the end of November, it’s cold, the snow falls down and Mr. Winterberg says: “The battle of Königgrätz goes straight through my heart.” Jaroslav Rudiš will talk about his writings, movies and music. And about his passion for trains, history, beer, humor, sauna and strange characters like Winterberg.
Discussant is Guido Snel, Assistant Professor of European Studies from the University of Amsterdam.
About NIAS Seminars
NIAS Seminars are aimed to stimulate scientific cross-pollination within the NIAS academic community, but seminars are open to others who are interested. Please let us know if you wish to attend.