by Roger Scruton

Set in the twilight years of the Czechoslovak communist regime, Notes from Underground describes a doomed love affair between two young people trapped by the system. Roger Scruton evokes a world in which every word and gesture bears a double meaning, as people seek to find truth amid the lies and love in the midst of betrayal.

Notes from Underground tells the story of Jan Reichl, condemned to a menial life by his father’s alleged crime, and of Betka, the girl who offers him education, opportunity, and love, but who mysteriously refuses to commit herself.

Through his encounter with the underground culture and the underground church, Jan comes to understand that truth will always elude those who pursue it, and will come only when they least expect it, often, as in this case, with devastating results. As the story moves to its tragic conclusion the communist system enters its death throes. Jan enjoys freedom at last, only to understand that he has lost the love that would have made freedom meaningful.

Roger Scruton gives an unforgettable portrait of Prague and its underground life, as it was during the 1980s, and before the communist collapse. And he provides a unique insight into the fears and hopes of young people, at a time when it was often a crime to be young.

Paula adds these links to help us deepen our understanding of the book:

Hudson Institute “Notes from Underground: Book Discussion

Scruton discusses book https://youtu.be/dQ2_Ar3hOPM (this is for people who speak Czech—LJ)

Evening with the British philosopher and writer Roger Scruton who, until his arrest by the StB and expulsion from Czechoslovakia in 1985, played a major role in the organisation of the era’s “underground university”. He later helped the Czechoslovak dissent via the Jan Hus Foundation in particular. Partly set in communist Prague in the mid-1980s, his novel Notes from the Underground is about love, nostalgia, the dissent and the search for the sacred and meaning in human life, religious faith, betrayal and disappointment. Michael Žantovský and Pavel Bratinka presented the book. The event was organized within the 19th annual Forum 2000 Conference. (in Czech)

Background

Czech history

Jan Hus (1369-1415)

Tomas Masaryk (1850-1937)

Vaclav Havel (1936-2011)

Magor Jirous (1944-2011)

Egon Bondy (1930-2007)

Charter 77 (1977)

Music

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Austro Bohemian Romantic composer and conductor Symphony #5 Symphony #6

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) Ruskala

Bedrich Smetena (1824-1884) Father of Czech music Ma Vlast

Zdenek Fibich (1850-1900) classical composer Sarka and the Bride of Messina

Leos Janacek (1854-1928) Eastern European folk music Diary of One Who Disappeared

Theorbo-plucked string instrument of the lute family Robert d Visee Prelude et Allemade performed by Jonas Nordberg

Plastic People of the Universe-underground rock band 1970’s

            Egon Bondy’s Happy Hearts Club Banned 1977

            The Passion Play 1978

            Kanarek 1997

Books

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) Russian novelist, philosopher, theologian Notes from the Underground 1864 one of the first works of existential literature that challenges nihilism and rational egoism 

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) German speaking Bohemian Czech kingdom) novelist fantastic realism; themes of alienation. Existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity The Trial 1914

Phillip Roth (1933-2018) American novelist autobiographical blurring the line between reality and fiction Zuckerman Bound Trilogy and Epilogue-The Prague Orgy 1985

Eva Kanturkova (1930-) Czech author and screenwriter My Companions in the Bleak House 1984