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1939, 2015: Prague and its history where puppets tell their own secrets
The Puppetmaker of Prague
What you need to know before your trail
London, 2016. When Christa discovers an exquisitely carved puppet hidden in her attic, she is drawn into a mystery buried deep within her family’s past. Her search leads her to Prague and a long-abandoned puppetry workshop, where an extraordinary revelation challenges everything she understood to be true about her life.
Prague, 1939. As the Nazis occupy the city, Elsa Doubkova’s world is torn apart. Her father’s beloved puppet theatre falls silent, her parents are forced into exile, and Elsa must raise her young sister alone in a city gripped by fear. Torn between her need to keep her sister safe and the passion she feels for a young Resistance member, Elsa draws the attention of the feared Gestapo and risks everything for those she loves and her country.
Locations
Reset- Czech Republic/Czechslovakia - Prague
- A: National Marionette Theatre
- B: Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre
- C: National Marionette Theatre
Travel Guide
Prague
There is a deep connection between Prague and its puppets. Far from being just children’s toys, puppets or marionettes in Prague represent a centuries-old art form. They are heavily intertwined with national identity, language, faith and wartime survival.
When the Nazis occupied Prague in 1939, puppeteers like Josef Skupa used their stages to deliver anti-fascist satire and allegorical political messages right under the Gestapo’s noses. Who would think puppets could be a danger…they’re for children, right?
The novel starts in London but it’s all about Prague and the puppets!
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Puppet Maker of Prague
Destination/location: Prague Author/Guide: Eliza Graham Departure Time: WW2
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