Under the cover of history

The book is the author's attempt to describe his life not only in the form of personal memoirs, but also as an effort to place it in its historical context and to populate the 75 years of his life with a large number of inconspicuous people and real personalities, some of whom influenced his life story. The second half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the next represent a period immensely rich in dynamic changes in the world, full of contradictions and twists in all spheres of individual and social life.

“…the author has experienced a great deal during the three quarters of a century of his life, and he presents his experiences and their interpretations to those around him. This was ultimately one of the main motivations for the creation of the manuscript, the call from his loved ones (friends, acquaintances, classmates, fellow citizens) to write a memoir. It is also for this reason that those 'involved' will perceive the publication in many ways differently from the 'no name' reader…”

“The text as a whole is of a very good stylistic level, has a high degree of coherence and thematic interconnection; Novák is a quality guide. He does not tire the reader with explanations of medical problems, travel experiences, or reflections on his private life. In some passages, Novák the surgeon reveals himself as a technical and concise narrator, while in others one can observe Novák the historian, more elaborate and lyrical. However, the combination of both approaches does not detract from the overall style of the work, quite the contrary: it is a defence against narrative stereotype and prevents reader boredom.”

From the review by PhDr. Karel Řeháček, Ph.D.