A SEQUEL TO CZECHMATE - A PERSONAL MEMOIR II

This is a sequel to Mila Rechcigl’s personal memoir, Czechmate. From Bohemian Paradise to American Haven, which covered his personal and professional life, viewing his life and career as a chess game, having frequently faced serious challenges which he usually confronted head-on, overcoming the obstacles by a true checkmate. Having now retired for a number of years, this Memoir probes the question whether and when he will be over the hill, as many of his contemporaries are. Having entered a new career as a bona fide non-fiction author, he has since published eleven monographs, including a 3-volume Encyclopedia of Bohemian and Czech-American Biography of 2538 pages, plus three reference books in the Czech language, would hardly qualify him for the Over the Hill category. Rechcigl’s broad interests, which are especially reflected in his approaches to Czech and Slovak ethnic history and which approach almost renaissance proportions, are mind-boggling. Apart from a retrospective look of his work and activities, and some ’Unforgettable Characters’ he met, this Memoir also provides intriguing glimpses of and penetrating insights to the life of the Czechoslovak exile and display his keen and luminous perceptions of the leading Czech and Slovak personalities abroad, as well as in the ’old country.’