Six months, six stories
Dispatches from the heart of Europe
Just over half a year ago, I pressed “Publish” on the first edition of Based in Bohemia. I wasn’t quite sure where it would lead.
Six months later, almost 500 people have subscribed, around two dozen have chosen to support the publication with a paid subscription, and every Friday I’ve had the privilege of telling stories from the Czech Republic and Slovakia that don’t always make international headlines.
They’ve ranged from politics to history, maps to mushrooms, rivers to archaeology - all with the same aim: to look beyond the headlines and explain the people, places and ideas that shape this part of the world.
With a short summer break approaching, this seemed like a good moment to pause and look back. Many of you have joined recently, while others may have missed an issue or two along the way.
So instead of a new story this week, I’ve picked half a dozen articles that I think best capture what Based in Bohemia is about. If you’re discovering them for the first time, I hope they offer a good introduction. If you’ve read them before, perhaps they’re worth another visit.
Finally, a simple thank you. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting upon and supporting this project. It has grown far more quickly than I expected, and your encouragement has made the Friday deadline something I genuinely look forward to each week.
I’ll be back soon with fresh stories from Central Europe. Until then, I hope you enjoy this look back.
Maps matter
There’s a map above my desk. It’s one of my favourites. It shows Czechoslovakia in 1933, the year Hitler seized power across the border.
Maps don’t just tell us where we are. They reveal how we see the world - and sometimes how we want to reshape it. As Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has shown, they can become powerful political statements in their own right.
For years, Viktor Orbán was more than just Hungary’s prime minister. He was a model for populists across Central Europe and beyond. This article asked what would happen if the man who built that network were to lose power.
To the castle
Adolf Hitler stood on the banks of the Danube, gazing at a roofless Bratislava Castle.
Some places tell a story. Others tell a dozen. From kings to Nazis, rabbis to Communists, Bratislava has watched the tides of Central European history ebb and flow around it for centuries. It’s a fascinating place.
History is rarely as black and white as we’d like it to be. One brief scene in a Hollywood blockbuster opens the door to a forgotten chapter of the Second World War - and a reminder that identity, loyalty and survival are complex.
Break the crutches
One cold winter’s day in 1938, a tired, middle-aged German man arrived at the door of Prague’s Jedlička Institute for disabled children.
One of the greatest pleasures of writing Based in Bohemia has been discovering stories I might never have covered in my day job. The story of the Würtz Collection is one of them - a remarkable tale of resilience and humanity.
The best stories aren’t always found in museums or history books. Sometimes they’re hidden beneath the pavement. This walk through Prague reveals the forgotten bridges, gardens and parks that still shape the city.
Excellent and informative work. Thanks!