Summer of Caprice (paperback)

"Summer of Caprice", a winning comic novel first published in 1926, is a classic of Czech writing, yet it is little known elsewhere. This may be due to the complexities of the text, which is characterized by a playful narrative, an exceptional mastery of language, and a layered metatextual context that has only become richer over the decades. Mark Corner has rendered this exceptional work in an English translation that beautifully captures Vladislav Vancura's experimental style - or, as the author himself called it, "poetism in prose." This translation is presented alongside the original illustrations and typography and goes a long way toward deepening our understanding of the Czech spirit, humor, and way of life.