Places in the Dark: Short Stories [The Czech List]

by Lidmila Kábrtová

Lidmila Kábrtová's book, Places in the Dark: Short Stories, is a collection of interconnected narratives revolving around the lives of six women. The stories reveal the realities and struggles hidden beneath their ordinary existences, with their paths converging throughout the book.

Short Story Collection Summary

The tale introduces six different women whose seemingly separate stories are woven together over the course of the book:

• Tereza: Following a divorce, Tereza becomes emotionally withdrawn and moves from one faceless lover to the next, until a surprising encounter changes her life forever.
• Klara: Klara is a woman who feels trapped and suffocated in a seemingly perfect, "golden cage" of a life.
• Eva: Eva has dedicated her life and sacrificed her own needs for her children and family.
  Karla: On the surface, Karla's life appears to be one big party, but the truth is more complex.
• Alice: Alice is doing everything she can to avoid becoming a "crybaby" like her mother.
• Petra: Petra reaches her breaking point and decides to take drastic measures to change her life.

Though their individual tales vary, their lives overlap and converge in unexpected ways, creating a "kaleidoscope of narratives" that forms a deeper, interconnected picture.
The book explores the idea that what appears to be ordinary on the surface often conceals profound truths and secrets.

The writing style, described as having "astonishing clarity," allows the essential truths of the characters' lives to become visible to the reader.

The Czech List

Places in the Dark: Short Stories is identified as part of "The Czech List" because it is a book series of contemporary Czech literature published by Seagull Books. The series includes works by Czech authors, translated for an English-speaking audience, and is distributed in partnership with the University of Chicago Press.

Interesting Facts on the Series for Readers

Purpose: The series aims to bring the work of Czech writers, like Lidmila Kábrtová to a wider, international readership.

Select Titles: The Czech List includes a variety of other books from different authors, such as Lilliputin: Tales from a War by Jan Nemec and The Mushroom Gatherer by Viktorie Hanišová.

Series Publisher: Seagull Books is a publisher known for its focus on alternative and culturally significant works, oversees the series.

Seagull Books: The Czech List

Books included in The Czech List series, published by Seagull Books, are contemporary works translated into English for a global audience.

Other Books in The Czech List Book Series Include:

• The Silent Years by Alena Mornštajnová (May 2026)
• The Mushroom Gatherer by Viktorie Hanišová (December 2025)
• A History of Light by Jan Němec (April 2025)
• Lilliputin: Tales from a War by Jan Němec (October 2023)

About the Author(s)

Lidmila Kábrtová

Lidmila Kábrtová is a Czech writer known for her short stories and experimental fiction.

Her works have been published in Dutch, Macedonian, and Serbian, in addition to her native Czech. She won the Czech Literary Fund Award for her book Places in the Dark. Her earlier works include the experimental fiction Whom Foxes Drink Up (2013) and a radio play for children, Grey.

Alena Mornštajnová

Alena Mornštajnová is a Czech fiction writer and translator who has become one of the most popular contemporary Czech authors. Her third novel, Hana (2017) cemented her reputation, earning her the 2018 Czech Book Award and becoming the 2017 Book of the Year on the Database of Books website.

More than 250,000 copies of her books have been sold in the Czech Republic.

She studied English and Czech at Ostrava University and worked as an English teacher for years.

Viktorie Hanišová

Viktorie Hanišová is a Czech author who explores themes of trauma, motherhood, and societal issues in her work. Her novels, including Anežka (2015), The Mushroom Gatherer (2018), and Reconstruction (2019), form a loose trilogy focused on trauma and family dynamics.

She is a graduate of Charles University, Prague, with degrees in English and German. In addition to writing, she works as a translator and language teacher.

Jan Němec

Jan Němec is a Czech writer and editor from Brno. He has published works across multiple genres, including poetry, short stories, and novels. His 2013 novel, A History of Light, won The Czech Book Award and the European Union Prize for Literature.

He is also known for the book of short stories Lilliputin: Tales from a War.

Němec is a former chairman of the Czech Writers Association and has worked as an editor and journalist for various publications.

Appeal and Rapidly Rising Popularity for this Unique and Powerful Literature

The book's popular and global appeal stems from:

Established Publisher and Distributor: Seagull Books is releasing the English edition of Places in the Dark, and the University of Chicago Press will handle distribution. Both are well-regarded, increasing the likelihood of strong promotion and wide availability in North American and global markets.

Comparison to Popular Authors: Publisher descriptions compare Kábrtová's work to that of Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro and suggest a similar style of narrative featuring female protagonists and an exploration of internal lives. This comparison alone is enough to create strong interest from readers of literary fiction.

Growing Interest in Translated Literature: There has been a rising interest in contemporary translated works from Central Europe and other regions. The "Czech List" series is specifically designed to capitalize on this interest by introducing prominent Czech authors to an international readership.

Positive Reception in Original Language: The book won the Czech Literary Fund Award in 2018, indicating its strong reception in the Czech market. This award-winning status increases its prestige and appeal to an international audience.

Universal Themes: The short stories delve into universal themes of personal trauma, family dynamics, and interconnected lives. These themes transcend cultural boundaries, giving the book broad global appeal, even if the specific cultural context is Czech.

Early Positive Reviews: An early review from Full Stop magazine praised the compelling English translation and compared Kábrtová to Alice Munro, affirming the potential for a positive reception in the English-speaking world.

Critical Acclaim

Award-Winning Author: Kábrtová's original Czech edition of Places in the Dark won the main award from the Czech Literary Fund in 2018. Winning a national literary award is a strong signal of quality and critical recognition within the author's home country, suggesting that the book's English translation is based on a celebrated work.

Prestigious Publisher and Distribution: The book's inclusion in "The Czech List" series from Seagull Books is a significant endorsement. Seagull Books has a long-standing reputation for publishing high-quality, culturally significant translated works. Distributed in North America by the University of Chicago Press, a major academic and literary publisher, the book is ensured a wider and more serious readership.

Comparison to Alice Munro: The official description of the book echoes the style of Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro, a figure synonymous with the short story form and known for her profound insights into the inner lives of women. This comparison immediately positions Kábrtová as a serious literary talent, indicating that the stories go beyond surface-level narratives to explore deeper human truths.

Focus on Universal Themes: The book’s exploration of interconnected female lives, personal trauma, secrets, and the profound realities hidden beneath ordinary existence speaks to universal human experiences. This broad, thematic appeal increases its potential for cross-cultural resonance with an international literary audience.

Early Positive English-Language Reviews: The online literary magazine Full Stop published a favorable review of the book in August 2025, praising its compelling translation and acknowledging its power. Such early, positive attention from literary outlets helps build buzz within the English-speaking world.

Considerations Regarding Broader Popularity

While these factors position Places in the Dark for literary acclaim, its path to becoming a widely "coveted" book depends on several additional factors:

Limited Marketing: As a translated work from a smaller press, it will likely not receive the same level of marketing and publicity as a major commercial release. Its popularity will depend more heavily on word-of-mouth among readers of literary fiction and academic settings.

The "Czech List" Niche: The book is being marketed as part of a specialized series. While this is a mark of quality for connoisseurs of translated literature, it may not immediately catch the eye of the average bookstore browser.

Sustained Critical Buzz: Continued positive reviews in prominent publications, literary awards consideration in English-language markets, and endorsements from respected authors will be necessary to grow its status from critically acclaimed to widely coveted.

In conclusion, Places in the Dark is strongly positioned to be a significant and highly-regarded work of contemporary literature, particularly within circles that appreciate sophisticated, character-driven short stories.

Its ultimate level of renown will depend on the reception it receives upon its full English-language release in October 2025.