Overview
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Points of national pride |
Beer, ice hockey, soccer, classical music, jazz, humor, women, Czech, ingenuity, history, science, film, architecture, Prague, food. |
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Culture |
Literature: Jaroslav Hašek, Karel Čapek, Bohumil Hrabal, Ludvík Vaculík, Josef Škvorecký, Milan Kundera, Jaroslav Seifert, Václav Havel. Film: Miloš Forman, Jan Svěrák, Zdeněk Svěrák, Jiří Menzel. Music: Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Jiří Stívín, Luboš Andršt, Ian Hammer, Emil Viklický. |
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Important People |
Karel IV., Jan Hus, Jan Žižka, Jiří z Poděbrad, J.A. Komenský, T.G. Masaryk, Václav Klaus, Václav Havel, Miloš Zeman |
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Past and current events |
Founding of Charles University (1348), Burning of Jan Hus (1415), Battle of White Mountain - start of 30-year war (1620), National revival (19th century), Foundation of Czechoslovakia (1918), Partial occupation by Germany (1938), End of Second World War (1945), Communist party takes power (1948), Invasion by allied forces (1968), Charter 77 (1977), Velvet Revolution (1989), Split with Slovakia (1993). |
3 Famous Composers
Bedřich Smetana (1828 - 1884) Popular composer of last century. Like Beethoven composed some of his best works while completely deaf. His works include: Bartered Bride, Dalibor, The Kiss, My Country.
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904 - see above) Other works: Slavonic Dances, Sabat Mater, Rusalka.
Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928) Most famous Czech composer of this century. His operas include: Káťa Kabanová, Věc Makropulos, Liška Bystrouška.
5 Important Writers
Jaroslav Hašek (1883-1923) Writer and journalist. Wrote satirical short stories. During WWI took part in the Russian Revolution. Creator of "Good Soldier Švejk" a popular satire from WWI translated into many over 20 languages including English.
Karel Čapek (1890-1938) Writer, journalist and playwright. His 1928 sci-fi drama R.U.R. first used the word robot. His other works include War of the Newts, White Illness, The Macropulos Thing, Krakatit.
Bohumil Hrabal (1914-97) Major works: I Served the King of England, Larks on a String, Closely Watched Trains, Too Loud a Solitude.
Josef Škvorecký (*1924) Emigrated after 1968. Currently lives in Canada. Started and runs publishing firm 68'Publishers. Major works: The Cowards, Sins for Father Knox, Swell Season, Tank Platoon.
Milan Kundera (*1929) Emigrated after 1968. Currently lives in France. Wrote his last novel in French. Major works: The Joke, Unbearable Lightness of Being, Laughable Loves, Immortality.
