Skvorecky, Josef

New York. 1990. February 1990. Norton. 1st American Edition. Very Good in Dustjacket. 0393027856. Translated from the Czech by Paul Wilson. 185 pages. hardcover. Jacket design by Linda Kosarin. keywords: Literature Translated Czech Eastern Europe Mystery. FROM THE PUBLISHER - Third in the series of linked detective tales featuring the ‘downbeat Prague cop' of THE MOURNFUL DEMEANOUR OF LIEUTENANT BORUVKA and SINS FOR FATHER KNOX, this collection of six stories takes place around the time of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. The stories include a murder in which a famous writer and supporter of Alexander Dubcek is implicated, but evidence uncovered by Boruvka points elsewhere. In a second story the murderer has reached a position of influence by the time our detective comes on the scene. A Soviet army sentry turns out to be responsible for a third murder. In the final story Boruvka must decide whether to jeopardize his career as he pursues an American gangster. In each of these cases, some of which are based on actual events, Boruvka is pitted against his colleagues, the secret police, and even his country. ‘Boruvka is, I suppose, in the British or European tradition of developed detective characters-he has problems, he even falls in love. If Woody Allen were stouter, he could play the part.' -Josef Skvorecky, commenting on his sad-eyed detective. inventory #26415 ISBN: 0393027856.