This novel was published first in 1977 by Klabb Kotba Maltin when the events of the Prague Spring and the 1968 invasion by Russian troops was still fresh in people's minds.

It has been republished now, after 50 years, but perhaps people do not remember the tragic 1968 events so perhaps that part of the book that provides background may seem irrelevant to those readers looking for a good story or, on the other hand, may provide important background that has been forgotten.

The story is soon understood: two Maltese doctors, fresh from their studies in London, decide to go on a holiday and choose Prague, then very much in the news because of the Prague Spring.

In those times, there was one country - Czechoslovakia - now divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Communist Party still ruled but it was led by Alexander Dubcek, a reformer. His reforms were causing panic in Russia and in the other East European countries under the Communist rule.

For the two Maltese doctors, Prague was a complete surprise. One of the doctors, Karmenu, falls in love with a comely employee of the hotel and clandestinely marries her.

But then, on 20 August 1968, Russian tanks invade the country to try and reverse the Dubcek reforms. The people of the country rise up in protest but the Russian repression is hard and people get killed.

In all this, Karm has only one aim - to get out and bring with him his wife.

Once the preliminaries are over, it becomes a tense read as it was not easy for a foreigner to escape from behind the Iron Curtain, and with a wife in tow!

As all those who have been to Prague in recent years can tell, there has been an incredible change these past 50 years. The former Czechoslovakia is now two countries. They are out of the Russian empire, members, like us, of the EU. They have become boringly normal countries with a consumer economy, enjoying a far better lifestyle than at any time under the Russians.

But they would not be here were it not for the courage shown by so many young people in 1968 who stood up for their freedom and independence when faced with tanks on their streets.