Moravia: Gem of the Czech Republic

Robert Tomanek could never find a comprehensive guide to the history and culture of the Czech Republic region of Moravia. So he decided to write one himself.

Tomanek, a professor emeritus of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Iowa, is the author of 'Moravia: Gem of the Czech Republic,” which was published this month by Iowa City-based Penfield Books.

Moravia comprises the eastern third of the Czech Republic. The western part of the country, Bohemia, gets most of the attention, Tomanek says. Much of what he found written on Moravia focused on its castles and châteaus, but he wanted to dive deeper.

'I want people to take away a real overview of this specific region of the Czech Republic, which has its own history,” he says. 'And I want Moravians in America to appreciate their own culture.”

He counts himself as part of that group. His parents immigrated to the United States from the Bohemian-Moravian highlands, on the border between the two regions.

His wife Rita Tomanek's grandmother was born about 15 miles from his parent's hometown. His wife is from Cedar Rapids; he is from Omaha. They met participating in Sokol gymnastics, to his parent's delight.

'Boy, was my dad happy when I said I was marrying a Czech girl,” he laughs.

The couple visits the Czech Republic regularly. They made two trips specifically to research this book, putting Tomanek's Czech language skills to good use. Tomanek also conducted research at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids.

With a multitude of photos, most taken by Tomanek on his travels, the book lays out the region's history, starting with archaeological finds dating back more than 20,000 years to the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Along the way, the text lays out the history of the Great Moravian Empire, which formed in the 800s. Before it collapsed in the year 906, Great Moravia encompassed all of what is today the Czech Republic and Slovakia, along with part of southern Poland and northern Austria.

'It really is the start of the Slavs in what later became Czechoslovakia,” Tomanek says.

The book also examines Moravian culture, including the traditional dress, called kroje, kolache pastry techniques and Eastern egg decorating styles unique to the region. A chapter on Moravian immigration to the United States and Canada brings the story home.

The project has been quite the switch for the retired professor. His previous publications include titles like, 'Coronary Vasculature: Development, Structure-Function, and Adaptations.”

'All my previous writing was scientific, so this was a real trip for me,” he says.

Meet the author

What: Presentation and book signings

When: 11 a.m. June 6

Where: Presentation at National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids. Book signing at Sykora Bakery, 73 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

More information: (319) 337-9998, penfieldbooks.com