Golden Maze
A Biography of Prague
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Golden Maze
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Narrated by:
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Richard Fidler
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By:
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Richard Fidler
About this listen
Beloved ABC broadcaster and best-selling author of Ghost Empire and Saga Land, Richard Fidler is back with a personally curated history of the magical city that is Prague.
In 1989, Richard Fidler was living in London as part of the provocative Australian comedy trio The Doug Anthony All Stars when revolution broke out across Europe. Excited by this galvanising historic, human moment, he travelled to Prague, where a decrepit police state was being overthrown by crowds of ecstatic citizens. His experience of the Velvet Revolution never let go of him.
Thirty years later Fidler returns to Prague to uncover the glorious and grotesque history of Europe's most Instagrammed and uncanny city: a jumble of Gothic towers, baroque palaces and zigzag lanes that has survived plagues, pogroms, Nazi terror and Soviet tanks. Founded in the ninth century, Prague gave the world the golem, the robot and the world's biggest statue of Stalin, a behemoth that killed almost everyone who touched it.
Fidler tells the story of the reclusive emperor who brought the world's most brilliant minds to Prague Castle to uncover the occult secrets of the universe. He explores the Black Palace, the wartime headquarters of the Nazi SS, and he meets victims of the communist secret police. Reaching back into Prague's mythic past, he finds the city's founder, the pagan priestess Libussa who prophesised: I see a city whose glory will touch the stars.
Following the story of Prague from its origins in medieval darkness to its uncertain present, Fidler does what he does so well - curates an absolutely engaging and compelling history of a place. You will learn things you never knew, with a tour guide who is erudite, inquisitive and the best storyteller you could have as your companion.
©2020 Richard Fidler (P)2020 Bolinda PublishingCritic Reviews
"Fidler displays great charm in the telling of his tale, spicing it with delicious gossip." (New York Times Book Review)
"Fidler's story leaves its readers with a sense of faith in the renewing, illuminating, social powers of historical narrative." (Sydney Morning Herald)
What listeners say about Golden Maze
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rodney Wetherell
- 24-09-2020
Fine biography of a fascinating city
I thoroughly enjoyed this history of Prague, despite the many disasters and invasions that occurred there. I have been there and knew something about it, but had little idea of its history, going right back to the Germanic tribes which inhabited the region in the 'dark ages'. Richard Fidler has done an extraordinary amount of research, and weaves the long story into a coherent and entertaining whole. He reads the book very well too. He brings the city to life, physically and spiritually. I wondered why there were so many Baroque churches in Prague, and he tell us they were built as symbols of a cultural takeover by the Habsburgs of Vienna. Like him I sensed the mysteries and oddities of Prague, as well as the sense of a city of great suffering, notably for its Jewish residents, once in considerable numbers.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Penelope
- 29-04-2024
What a history!
A history of the world in one republic. This was a most thorough, insightful, hellish history of an area of the world that is so far from my own. It was presented beautifully, in a lovely conversational Australian accent, that made me feel I was totally along for the ride. Really enjoyed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Glen
- 15-06-2021
The Golden Maze shines
This review comes after my second full listen. Richard Fidler provides a graceful, simple and elegant biography of the city of my grandfather who escapes the Stalinist regime in the early 1950s with my grandmother, mother and aunt. Prague is a complex and extraordinary city with an enthralling history. It was great to hear a fellow Australian provide a brilliant yarn, demonstrating that both our nations share a sense of humanity and humour. A cracking good read ready for my next flight to Czechia once the plague is gone.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Zimmerman
- 23-07-2021
5 stars all the way
Richard Fidler has once again done an outstanding job. thanks so much cannot wait for the next city/book
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jacquelyn
- 25-07-2023
Fidler does it again
Another deeply researched and beautifully written piece of work by Fidler. I have enjoyed several of his books and this one was just as enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed listening to him read the audiobook with such and engaging and easy to listen to voice.
More than anything though, with every chapter my desire to go back to Prague to again and explore it fully deepened. I had the pleasure of spending just one day there many years ago & fell in love with the city - Fidler's attention to detail and the human story of the city just makes me want to spend more time there.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sharyn
- 10-06-2021
Excellent overall
I don’t love the author’s “story time” narration, but I also don’t really like him as an interviewer; I know I’m nearly alone in this.
In spite of this, the book is still worth 5 stars overall. The depth, the flow, the linking of diverse narrative threads were all excellent. The research must’ve been phenomenal and the personal insights definitely add to the story. Highly recommend.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-03-2022
Highly recommend
The author weaves an engaging story which brings this city to life.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ben
- 04-12-2020
another interesting historical non fiction
from king of aus radio. i dont think this is quite as engaging as his icelandic or constantinople entries. admittedly prague and czech arent as interesting topics for me compared to the other 2 locations. there's a bit less magic and mystery to the pragmatic laconic people and to be brutally honest i think slippery dick might have taken this project on for a 2 month holiday.
i am being harsh and if you are a fan of fiddlers this is unmissable and enjoyable. most chapters aar eengaging and illuminating, couple of dull ones though. can't wait to see what else he churns out. would love to see you tackle a fictional tale if your reading these idiotic words richy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D. Smith
- 12-06-2021
great read
A great book such a deep history that i never knew existed told so eloquently
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jennifer Wilkinson
- 09-12-2023
A breathtaking account of the rich history of Prague
A stunning and fastidiously researched and executed account of Prague from the very beginning. It equals Richard’s other historical accounts of cities and I am keen to read more. I am also itching to visit these cities to fully immerse myself.
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