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Czech BooksFrom Karel Čapek to Graham Greene: a Scottish poet’s memories of Prague
In a recent edition of Czech Books we looked at the Prague-inspired poetry
of the Scottish poet, Edwin Muir. But it was not just in his poetry that
Muir evoked the atmosphere of the Czech capital. David Vaughan finds out
more in this week’s Czech Books. More
Czech BooksRabindranath Tagore: an Indian poet who inspired a Czech generation
This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Bengali poet,
Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1913. Tagore has a special significance for Czechs, as we
find out in this week’s Czech Books. More
Czech BooksFrom Karel Čapek to Graham Greene: a Scottish poet’s memories of Prague
In a recent edition of Czech Books we looked at the Prague-inspired poetry
of the Scottish poet, Edwin Muir. But it was not just in his poetry that
Muir evoked the atmosphere of the Czech capital. David Vaughan finds out
more in this week’s Czech Books. More
From the ArchivesKarel Čapek's enduring message
Internationally the Czech writer Karel Čapek is best known as the inventor
of the term “robot” in his 1920 play R.U.R. With his novels, stories
and plays combining humour, satire and a strong humanist vision, Karel
Čapek was hugely popular in pre-war Czechoslovakia. But this was a time
when Hitler’s Germany was casting a dark shadow over Central Europe and
it is hardly surprising that one of the few recordings of Čapek in our
archives - speaking on Christmas Eve 1937 - does not bear a cheerful
message. More
Current AffairsThe Makropulos Case, directed by Robert Wilson, premieres at Estates Theatre
A highly-touted production of Karel Čapek’s play The Makropulos Case,
directed by acclaimed American designer and director Robert Wilson,
premiered at Prague’s Estates Theatre on Thursday. Mr Wilson is known for
a highly unique approach to the stage and The Makropulos Case (a comedy
about an enigmatic singer sought by all men) includes many signature
elements. More
Czech BooksCzech literary treasures in London
Not many of the thousands of passengers arriving every day at London’s
busy St Pancras Station are aware that they are passing just a few dozen
metres away from one of the largest and most diverse collections of Czech
books outside the Czech Republic. Tucked in beside the station is the huge,
but surprisingly inconspicuous complex of the British Library. In this
week’s Czech Books, David Vaughan shows us some of the highlights of the
library’s rich Czech collection.
More
One on OneUS translator Norma Comrada on how she learnt by translating Karel Čapek
Karel Čapek is one of the few Czech writers whose work has transcended
borders. Although he died prematurely, aged 48, during the dire year of
1938, in the course of his short lifetime he wrote over 20 prosaic works as
well as several plays and travel books. Many of these have been translated
into English – and our guest in this edition of One on One is Norma
Comrada, an American who translated several of Čapek’s collections of
short stories, and his 1938 play The Mother. I met Ms Comrada at a most
appropriate venue – Karel Čapek’s study on the top floor of his former
villa in the Prague area of Vinohrady.
More
Current AffairsAs 70th anniversary is marked, Czech author’s works now in public domain
The noted Czech author Karel Čapek is perhaps best known for coining the
term “robot” in his 1921 play “Rossum’s Universal Robots”. Now,
as Czechs mark seventy years since his death, Karel Čapek’s works are
also shifting into the public domain.
More
ArtsThe Macropulos Case returns to Prague’s National Theatre
The opera Věc Makropulos by Czech composer Leoš Janáček, premiered at
Prague’s National Theatre on Thursday in a co-production with the
English
National Opera. In this edition of the Arts, we take a closer look at the
opera, known as The Makropulos Case in English, and at its production in
Prague. More
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