A Twentieth Century Moravian Village Diary

ALOISIE RYCHLIKOVA: A TWENTIETH CENTURY MORAVIAN VILLAGE DIARY
A limited edition of a diary depicting south Moravian countryside during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century – AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE  FROM THE CZECH CENTRE *

The diary gives a graphic account of what it was like to live in the south Moravian countryside during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century. It outlines the known history of the writer’s family and village down to 1942, based on archival material, family tradition, local record books, her grandmother’s memories, and her own personal experience, and then gives a first-hand account of what happened subsequently: the latter part of the Second World War, the liberation battle of 1945, the post-war reconstruction during 1946-47, the disastrous harvest of 1947, the Communist take-over in 1948, the collectivization of agriculture, the brief political thaw of 1968, and the subsequent Soviet-led invasion and repression. The writer had no more than a village school education, and such people do not normally keep diaries extending over more than thirty years. She therefore writes from a viewpoint which is very sparsely represented in the literature, and what she has to say will help to round out the picture for all who are interested in the history of twentieth-century Europe.

If you would like to receive a copy of the diary, please send an email to Milarova@czechcentre.org.uk
by 15 February 2012, stating your postal address. Czech Centre London will contact all applicants after the deadline and will send the diary to you via post.*

* Subject to availability