This collection of short stories set in 16th-century Prague revolves around Rudolf II, king of Bohemia and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, known for his love of the arts. The narrative features Rabbi Loew, the wealthy Mordejai Meisl, and his wife Esther, who serve as connections between the court and the ghetto. The stories are presented through the eyes of Jacob Meisl, a mysterious medical student intent on demonstrating that "history school professors and history book writers don't know nor understand anything." He argues that historical accounts often overlook the human and magical aspects of existence, suggesting that true literature can often be more real than history itself. First published in 1953, shortly before the author's death, this work is widely regarded as Leo Perutz's masterpiece. He is celebrated as one of the great narrators of the 20th century, admired by diverse writers such as Graham Greene, Ian Fleming, and Jorge Luis Borges, and recognized as one of the finest historical novels in universal literature.
