The Last Palace

The Last Palace chronicles the history of an opulent residence in Prague through the lives of four people who occupied it during the 20th century. The building, now the U.S. Ambassador's residence, serves as the backdrop for exploring Czechoslovakia's turbulent past from 1918 to the present. The narrative follows Otto Petschek, a Jewish financial baron who built the palace; Rudolf Toussaint, the Nazi officer who commandeered it; Laurence Steinhardt, the first U.S. Ambassador to post-war Czechoslovakia; and Shirley Temple Black, who served as Ambassador during the Velvet Revolution. The author, Norman Eisen, adds his own perspective as U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2014, interweaving his mother's Holocaust survival story. The book examines the parallel paths of democracy and authoritarianism in Central Europe through personal accounts, diplomatic cables, and historical records. The palace itself becomes a witness to the region's cycles of freedom and repression, hope and destruction. Through these interconnected stories, The Last Palace presents themes of resilience, the fragility of democracy, and the persistence of both human cruelty and courage. The building stands as a monument to the complex relationship between power, culture, and the individuals who shape history.

Readers appreciate Eisen's weaving of his mother's Holocaust survival story with the palace's history and his own diplomatic service. Many note the book provides a fresh perspective on Czech history through the lens of a single building and its occupants. Readers liked: - Personal connection to historical events - Detail about preservation of art/artifacts during WWII - Mix of architectural and political history - Stories of individual resistance against totalitarianism Common criticisms: - Too much focus on author's mother's story - Occasional pacing issues - Some historical segments feel dense - Jumps between timeframes can be confusing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Sample review: "The building serves as an anchor for multiple stories of resistance, preservation and hope. However, the narrative threads sometimes compete rather than complement." - Goodreads reviewer

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🏰 Norman Eisen served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2011-2014, living in the very palace he writes about in the book. 📚 The Villa Petschek, the palace at the heart of the story, was built by Otto Petschek, a Jewish financial mogul who spent the modern equivalent of $200 million on its construction in the 1920s. 🗝️ The palace has witnessed pivotal moments in Czech history, including the Nazi occupation, Communist rule, the Velvet Revolution, and the emergence of democracy. 👥 The author's mother, Frieda, was a Czech Holocaust survivor who fled to America in 1949, adding a deeply personal dimension to his narration of Czech-Jewish history. 🏛️ The 100-room palace remains the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Prague and is considered one of the most magnificent American diplomatic properties in Europe.