Václav Čtvrtek: Naughty tales

A collection of tales from Prague and Czech towns is a decameron-like book, representing in humorous exaggeration a series of human figures from the times of the upper class, of mayors, of magistrates and serfs, figures, whose fates are interfered with by supernatural forces and fairy-tale creatures, to tempt common sense. As in all of Čtvrtek's books, smiles and familiarity reign here, drawing on folklore roots and building on folk notions of goodness, law, justice, cleverness and skill. They read: Josef Červinka and Petr Haničinec.