"...old Prague, which may not be so comfortable, but which, of all cities on earth, is surely the most picturesque..."
I took my niece to Prague this summer holiday and I have to say that all the reports I heard of the city were true - it is a beautiful! I have been trying the last while to read books connected with places I travel lately. In that connection I downloaded Nina Balatka by Anthony Trollope. It is the first book of his that I have read.
I think that I have been sceptical about what I would call reading the "classics" as I seem to have assumed that they would be difficult to read. I am discovering that this has been a misapprehension. At least this book was incredibly easy to read, just simply and sweetly written. Not exactly great literature, but still lovely. In addition, quite surprising. I simply downloaded it as it was set in Prague (so simply were my ambitions). When I started reading the preface I was somewhat perturbed. A book written about a romance between a Jew and a christian. A book published in 1866. It didn't help that the preface took up the question whether the author was anti-semitic.
I forged ahead nevertheless.
My assessment - no, Anthony Trollope was no anti-semitic. To the contrary, the heroine, Nina Balatka, as pure and faultless a heroine as there ever was. Pure, but determined, even stubborn, with a wee bit of pride. Not to mention, a healthy dash of naivité as any heroine of a book from that time period should be. The hero, Anton Trendellsohn, "the Jew". How could one not understand his scepticism? Treated as they have been by the Christians? In this book it is definitely the Christians who, despite their faith, are the villians. Rebecca Loth perhaps the true heroine of the book, as the Jewish woman who also loved Anton.
Considering the obstacles this couple face I found myself almost wishing them to go their separate ways. Naïve of me, not doubt, as the book would most definitely have been a tragedy under such a fate.
My conclusion? It is a sweet and lovely read and one of many Anthony Trollopes to come. Just perfect for the end of a tiring year.
Note: the picture is from my own trip to Prague, of St. John Nepomucene or Nepomuk on the amazing Charles bridge. I knew exactly which of the 30 statues it was from the book! As we wandered across the bridge, we noted a statues where the reliefs underneath were polished from a great deal of "handling" and wondered why. Nina Balatka answered that question for me. Precisely why it is so kul to read books about the places one travels too, even novels!
