A comprehensive analysis of
where politics, culture, and art merge, The Great Country Houses of the
Czech Republic and Slovakia is a captivating read for anyone curious
about the history and architecture of these two countries. Gerhard
Trumler’s striking photographs allow readers entrance, for example, to
the Liechtensteins’ twin chateaux of Valtice and Lednice in the Czech
Republic. The lords of these castles established one of the greatest
art collections in the world and played a major role in the diplomatic
and military lives of the nation; they still remain as the ruling house
of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Pratt’s new chapter speaks of the
difficulties of restoration and problems concerning modern-day
ownership. Though many estates were lost or damaged during the World
Wars, the houses as they stand today