For the Love of Prague: The True Love Story of the Only Free American in Prague During 30 Years of Communism

I am in the same situation as the previous reviewer; I have a huge waiting list of friends and students who want to read this book and it is difficult for me to get it back. As a fellow expat in Prague, this book is close to my heart and I can completely relate to Gene Deitch. I too, am in love with a Czech and will probably spend the rest of my life here as well. He went through many of the same experiences as I have, but for 30 years under communist rule. He was truly in love and a great man to give up the luxuries of America and sacrifice his family for the woman he loves. Luckily, unlike other expats during this time, he was free to come and go as he pleased and was still earning American dollars. He gives an excellent description of life during communism and even delivers some laughs. Most of my students and friends have never heard of this book and are enjoying every page that I share with them and spreading the word about this gem. Unfortuntately, it has not been published in Czech. So many Czechs would love to read this novel and see how the world looked in Prague through a westerners eyes during the turbulent past. I laughed and cried throughout the book. My friend has met the Deitchs, and they are still happy and very much in love. Deitch also provides an extensive guidebook and tour of Prague in his last chapter. This book is enough to make anyone see the beauty and mystique of this city and the desire to come and see it for themselves.

This is the only book I own about life outside the US that I regularly lend out. I also routinely have trouble getting it back! Not only is the story fascinating--An American goes & lives behind the Iron Curtain for 30 years for the woman he loves, but Deitch has stuffed the book full of as many useful & interesting facts as possible about his adopted city. Even if I had never been to Prague I would greatly enjoy his "Secret Prague Guidebook" chapter. As it is, I am greatly looking forward to checking out some of the off-the-track details he mentions, next time I am over there. I recommend this book for any student of history, and especially for anyone curious about how life was under communism for ordinary people.