Library Journal
Morley's book, a first-person narrative by one Joseph Pallehner (the fictitious name of a real person), begins shortly after World War II, when Pallehner, a Czech-German prisoner, is sent to Prague's Leopoldov prison through bureaucratic error. Convicted of collaboration with the enemy during World War II, Pallehner is sentenced to six years in prison. As the regime persists and changes, he notices that the uncertainties of prison life mirror the uncertainties of political life outside, and ultimately one sees Czechoslovakia as a labyrinth. Pallehner survives due to his acute mind and unswerving humanity. A vivid account, this book is a powerful reminder of a human being's ability to triumph over any conditions. Recommended for all levels of readers. Frederick C. Lynden, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, R.I.