L'hérésiarque et Cie

A weary traveler arrives in Prague at the turn of the twentieth century, stepping off a train that seems to carry more than just luggage. The bustling station, the split ticket that proves ownership of his bag, and the multilingual street vendors immediately immerse him in a city where language and politics clash. He is guided by a lone French‑speaking passerby who hints at the locals’ deep resentment toward the Germans and offers a tentative friendship.

Seeking shelter, he discovers a modest hotel whose ground‑floor café hums with song, while the cramped upstairs rooms promise anonymity. The proprietor, a sharp‑tongued older woman, hints that companionship is readily available among the café’s regulars. As he wanders the cobblestones, the narrator’s keen eye captures the lingering celebration of Victor Hugo’s centenary, the Czech translations on shop windows, and the subtle undercurrents of cultural pride. The scene sets the stage for a series of encounters that will test his curiosity and reveal the hidden layers of this vibrant, restless city.