The Leaning Church

A captivating chronicle of the rise and fall of Karviná, with the Leaning Church as a witness to human destiny

A NOVEL CHRONICLE OF A LOST CITY, 1894–1921

The book's subtitle succinctly summarises the story of a former shepherd's village that built its prosperity on coal mining, only to fall into decline a century later – also due to coal mining. Today, nothing remains of the grand buildings and lofty cathedral. Only the leaning church, which stands starkly and warningly in the desolate landscape.

The book begins with the great mining disaster of 1894, which harshly impacted the lives of people throughout the entire region. The heroes of this book are among them, and we follow their turbulent fates over the next quarter of a century.

Barbora, Julka, and Ludwik represent three completely different storylines that intertwine in many places, creating a vivid picture of a half-forgotten era, the harshness of which is in many ways almost unimaginable for today's reader. Each of the heroes faces life's challenges in their own way: some passively submit to them, while others try to seize the opportunities that the fermenting times offer. However, the grand sweep of history repeatedly and mercilessly intervenes in all their destinies, capable of turning an ordinary person's efforts to dust. Or perhaps not.

The story is built on real events, many of which have never before been depicted in Czech fiction. The narrative unfolds at a dramatic pace and with such authenticity that the plot often transforms before the reader's eyes into a film, recording even what until recently remained hidden in the locked room of Czech history.

The first volume of the trilogy about the resurrection of Karviná, for which the author received the Medal of Merit, 1st Class, in the field of culture from President Petr Pavel.