Alice Horáčková explores Czech-German history in new novel

Alice Horáčková’s novel, ‘Geteiltes Haus’ (Split House), explores the complex history of the Sudetenland through a family saga set in the mountain village of Benetzko. The narrative spans the first half of the 20th century, tracing the impact of shifting political regimes—from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy through the First and Third Czechoslovak Republics—on a local community.

The story focuses on the lives of two women, Zdenka and Anežka, whose friendship persists despite the rising tides of nationalism and war. The novel examines the tension between Czech and German identities, particularly as the coexistence of the two groups transitions from mutual respect to the eventual expulsion of Germans following the Nazi annexation of the Sudetenland.

Through the contrasting lives of characters like the pragmatic Vinzenz and the ideologically driven Hans Hollmann, Horáčková illustrates how large-scale political shifts and personal decisions intersect, often with life-altering consequences for individuals in remote, isolated regions.