A book-by-book study of Josef Skvorecky's fiction that investigates the elements of Skvorecky's work, establishing a framework for future critical work. Skvorecky left Czechoslovakia in the wake of the 1968 invasion and settled in Canada. In the course of the next 20 years, he wrote many novels, and gradually developed a reputation as one of Canada's finest novelists. In 1985 he received the Governor General's Award for Fiction.

Sam Solecki is a professor of English at the University of Toronto and a former editor of The Canadian Forum.He is also editor of Beyond Remembering: The Collected Poems of Al Purdy, Starting from Ameliasburgh: The Collected Prose of Al Purdy and Rooms for Rent in the Outer Planets: Selected Poems 1962-1996. His most recent books are Ragas of Longing: The Poetry of Michael Ondaatje and The Last Canadian Poet: An Essay on Al Purdy.

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"The most intelligent book on contemporary Czech literature to have appeared in English—or Czech, or German." — The Slavonic and East European Review

"The clarity of his argument and the felicity of his expression make the book enjoyable." — CBRA

"It is a thorough job, containing descriptions and analyses of all the major Skvorecky works as well as a chronology and extensive notes...[A] valuable and long-overdue guide to a fascinating author." — World Literature Today