If the US is a human melting pot, then Eastern Europe is a scrap yard.

~ Péter Zilahy

Péter Zilahy Central Europe Dark Humour Dictatorship Novel

It’s not easy to be God.

~ Péter Zilahy

Péter Zilahy Central Europe Coming Of Age Dark Humour Sacrifice

Unlike exotic fruit or fancy cars, democracy is best if it is grown locally. It may take root in the common desire of the people who choose to adopt it, but it cannot be imposed from the outside.

~ Anna Porter

Anna Porter Central Europe Democracy

Take Tom Jones and mix him with Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor-cum-castrato singer. Then add tons of pathetic love songs, faked sex appeal and musical kleptomania focusing on Western hits from the 1970s. Spice it up with a political flexibility rare even for Central European standards and a personal status close to that of the Pope. What do you get? Karel Gott, Czech pop music's most mega-super, long-lasting and brightest star.

~ Terje B. Englund

Terje B. Englund Central Europe Communism Humor Karel Gott Pop Music Singer