Taipei: When best-selling Czech author Katerina Tuckov¡ visited Taiwan earlier this month to promote the Chinese version of her novel “The Last Goddess,” she noted a shared history of authoritarian rule that she believes will resonate with Taiwanese readers.

According to Focus Taiwan, Tuckov¡ shared her thoughts during an interview at the Taipei International Book Exhibition, emphasizing her commitment to preserving cultural memory that was extinguished by state persecution.

“The Last Goddess” is set against the backdrop of 20th-century Czechoslovakia, a time marked by intense political upheaval. The narrative follows Dora Idesov¡, a modern-day researcher raised by her aunt, a “goddess” from the White Carpathian Mountains. These goddesses were believed to possess healing powers through herbal knowledge and divination. The novel traces their persecution from 17th-century witch trials to scrutiny under the Nazis and repression by the communist regime. Tuckov¡ highlights how communism ultimately severed the generational transfer of this ancient knowledge with the death of the last recognized goddess, Irma Gabrilov¡, in 2001.

Tuckov¡ believes Taiwanese readers will connect with her novel due to similar experiences of political turmoil and totalitarian rule in both Taiwan and the Czech Republic. She stresses the importance of understanding the perspectives of those who lived through authoritarian rule to prevent future societal shifts that could lead to similar regimes. The novel aims to educate future generations about the ease with which societies may change if citizens remain passive, as illustrated by the 1946 Czechoslovak parliamentary elections and the subsequent communist coup in 1948.

Tuckov¡ also draws parallels between the Czech goddesses and Taiwan’s Indigenous shamanic women, commending Taiwan for its efforts to preserve cultural traditions. She contrasts this with the Czech experience, where little was left to save by the time people began to appreciate the goddess culture. Tuckov¡ recounts how bias against the goddesses was ingrained in language and society, reflecting communist propaganda aimed at discrediting them. Her research involved gathering information from official documents, history archives, and interviews to piece together “The Last Goddess,” blending factual events with fiction.

Her work often sheds light on marginalized groups, particularly women, as seen in her earlier novel “Gerta.” Tuckov¡’s literature has sparked public discussions about historical responsibility and reconciliation, demonstrating the power of art to evoke emotional responses that history books may not achieve. Her contributions to confronting modern history were recognized with the Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Award from the Czech Republic’s Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in 2017.