Slovakland: A Journey through the Ages

By Helena Kanderka

What do you know about Slovakia? Even if you are of Slovak or other Central or Eastern European descent, the answer is probably "Not much". Your immigrant grandparents never talked about the "old country". Your textbooks skimmed or omitted it. Yet when it comes to the epic history of Central Europe, the Slovaks were involved in it all! Their captivating story is finally told here. It begins with a cunning jewel heist and escape from the Hunnic Avars in 791. The characters then survive through the centuries as they become part of Great Moravia, Magyar-controlled Hungary, and finally the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire. The years connect them to Charlemagne, Crusaders and Mongols. They survive plagues, famines, bloody battles, fires and cruel lords. We see them forced to work, fight, and change their religion. Yes, they eventually rebel. Despite the rape, plunder and gore, there are many light moments--a crazy priest, magnificent knights, the wonder of building a castle. The characters learn to live by their wits and determination. They conduct 'pop up' markets for Crusaders. They fool the Hussites by pretending to be Jewish. And here the beautiful and mighty Slovakian castles are settings for their own intriguing events, not stand-ins for Game of Thrones or Braveheart . Why should the Slovaks' story interest anyone else? These strong people lived for centuries as virtual slaves in a multi-ethnic nation that was controlled by the aristocracy and the Catholic Church. They endured pandemics and climate change before science could explain what was happening. Yet they survived--and many went on to successful lives in America. Visit the book's website for more info and a detailed map of locations in the book: helenakanderka.com

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B09M57DZ8K
• ISBN13: 9798772086308
• Release Date: November 2021
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 489 Pages
• Weight: 1.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.1" x 6.0"