He is best known as the author of two brilliant satirical plays r. While karel capek was always the better known one of the two, josef was never too far behind, and often appears to act as the inspirational figure behind the works his younger brother wrote. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Czech vec makropulos is a czech opera in 3 acts, with music and libretto by leos janacek. Buy a cheap copy of the war with the newts book by karel capek. Composed between 1923 and 1925, the makropulos affair was his penultimate opera and, like much of his later work, was.
Yu, shangyuan 18971970 people and organisations trove. The son of a country doctor, capek suffered all his life from a spinal disease, and writing seemed a compensation. Perhaps the most versatile and prominent writer in czech history, karel capek was wellknown as a playwright, novelist, story writer, journalist, childrens author, biographer, essayist, illustrator, photographer and translator. In this weeks dispatches from the secret library, dr oliver tearle reads the charming short stories of karel capek the modern meaning of the word robot has its origins in a 1920 play by czech writer karel capek. All the plays have been produced successfully in new york. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. First printing of this translation by paul selver that follows capeks revised text prepared. Karel capek books list of books by author karel capek. Nikos makropoulos mixola ta tragoudia tou kai oi megaluteres epituxies tou.
The makropulos affair or the makropoulos case, the makropulos secret, or, literally, the makropulos thing. Second part offers a selection from the normal and the uncanny. Rur the work that introduced the word robot to the world, the makropoulos secret and inventions. Compare and contrast a single element in two scenes from karel capeks r. Josef won a considerable reputation as a painter of the cubist school, later developing his own playful primitive style. Nine fairy tales by karel capek and one more thrown in for.
It is virtually impossible to think of anyone more important and more prominent in the culture life of people in what was at the time known as czechoslovakia, between the ww1 and ww2, than the capek brothers. Illustrated by karels brother josef 18871945 who was a graphic artist, and painter, also a writer and poet. Printed broadside, revised with typed corrections to one line, inscribed in ink to walter russell, president of the society of arts and sciences, dated jan 1, 1929, and signed edwin markham. Boston, international pocket library 1965, 1925 ocolc654996657. Karel capeks apocryphal stories by 4 comments in this weeks dispatches from the secret library, dr oliver tearle reads the charming short stories of karel capek the modern meaning of the word robot has its origins in a 1920 play by czech writer karel capek. Of greater interest to the sf reader was the first of capeks sf novels. Czechoslovakian author and playwright capek 18901938 commented on r.
The makropoulos secret is a really good play by the alwaysfresh and funny karel capek. The plot revolves around a lawsuit and a big mystery behind it that capek cleverly keeps mysterious until the end. The makropoulos secret english 1925 as by karel capek translation. The makropulos affair paperback january 1, 1989 by leos janacek author, karel capek author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Originally published in 1897, this early works is a fascinating novel of the period and still an interesting read today. Its english title has been variously rendered as the makropulos affair, the makropulos case, or the makropulos secret. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. Capek s genius to me appears erratic and while powerful in certain speeches given his theatrical characters, dissipates over the course of these two plays taken as a whole.
Divadelni hra z roku 1922 nastoluje otazku moralnich dusledku um. The makropulos affair was his penultimate opera and, like much of his later work, it was inspired by his. Newspapers, prayer books, saint adalbert, patriotic songs, university lectures, the works of q. Illustrated by karel s brother josef 18871945 who was a graphic artist, and painter, also a writer and poet. Though not as captivating as rossums universal robots, the makropoulos secret is not by any means a bad play. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Karel capek became a journalist and for a time stage manager of the theatre in vinohrady.
The first section has three works from science and utopia. The next play, the makropoulos secret, only gathers steam near its conclusion, in the whole rationale for immortality. The insect comedy 1921, whose characters are insects, is an ironic fantasy on human weakness. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The artistic genius of karel and josef capek prague blog.
Karel matej capekchod 18601927, czech writer milic capek 19091997, czechamerican philosopher norbert capek 18701942 founder of the unitarian church in czechoslovakia. The visionary czech writer karel capek 18901938, one of the centurys great authors, first gained fame during the 1920s and 1930s when his short stories, novels. He is credited as the coiner of the word robot, for karel s book r. Janacek used it as the basis for his opera the makropoulos affair 1925. Karel capek was born in male svatonovice, bohemia, austriahungary now in czech republic. Janacek based his opera on the play vec makropulos by karel capek. Author karel capeks complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Karel capek 18901938, a famous czech novelist, dramatist, journalist, and theorist, is best known today for his book rossums universal robots, which introduced the world robot to the field of science fiction. The makropoulos secret, by karel capek adapted by randal c burrell, introduction by h. In hungary, berti gregor eagerly anticipates winning his lawsuit against baron prus over possession of the valuable lukh.
Dec 31, 2014 nikos makropoulos mixola ta tragoudia tou kai oi megaluteres epituxies tou. Vec makropulos is a czech play written by karel capek. The makropoulos secret english 1925 as by karel capek. Karel capek, born january 9, 1890, in male svatonovice, austriahungary today czech republic was a writer, playwright, novelist, journalist. The libretto, based on a play of the same name by karel capek, was written by the composer between 1923 and 1925. Capeks genius to me appears erratic and while powerful in certain speeches given his theatrical characters, dissipates over the course of these two plays taken as a whole. The makropulos secret was capek s own preferred english rendition of the plays title described by capek as a comedy, vec makropulos received its first performance on 21 november 1922 in the vinohrady theatre in prague. Josef and karel capek were the best known literary figures of liberated czechoslovakia after 1918. The makropoulos secret by karel capek book cover, description, publication history. When george bernard shaw expressed enthusiasm for universal longevity in back to methuselah 1921. Bleiler xix a brief history of early sciencefiction in terms of story clusters essay by everett f. Watch matinee theater season 3, episode 77 the makropoulos secret. This play explores the theme of immortality by looking at a woman who may have used an elixir of life. Josef capek 18871945, czech painter and writer brother of karel capek.
Vyskocil, political pamphlets, parliamentary recordsthe absolute can withstand them all. His other books and plays include detective stories, novels, fairy tales and theatre plays, and even a book on gardening. Karel capek was a czech writer, playwright and critic. Books by karel capek are out of from today one of the greatest czech authors karel capek properly spelled karel capek has died exactly 70 years ago and the information about his books going to the public domain have even made news in the main evening news program. His father, antonin capek, a country doctor, was a voracious reader whose own library was filled with books of history, philosophy, general culture, world literature, and also fairy tales. The makropoulos secret by karel capek fantastic fiction. He collaborated with his brother in composing sketches, stories, and plays, as well as writing two short novels of his own and critical essays in which he defended the art of. The makropulos secret was capeks own preferred english rendition of the plays title described by capek as a comedy, vec makropulos received its first performance on 21 november 1922 in the vinohrady theatre in prague. Though a writer of novels, visionary romances, travel books, stories, and essays, karel is best known for his plays. For most people he is best known for the science fiction play r. Though not as captivating as rossums universal robots, the. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. Karel capeks personal life from birth to student days. I wished to write a comedy, partly of science, partly of truth.
Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. Complete summary of karel capeks nine fairy tales by karel capek and one more thrown in for good measure. Karel capek, czech novelist, shortstory writer, playwright, and essayist. The makropoulos secret 1923, later used as the basis for leos janaceks opera, was an experimental piece that questioned whether immortality is really desirable. Karel capek is currently considered a single author. He is credited as the coiner of the word robot, for karels book r. The makropulos secret was capeks own preferred english rendition of the plays title.
Translated from the czech by norma comrada a grand collection of tales and fables from. He studied philosophy in prague, berlin, and paris and in 1917 settled in prague as a writer and journalist. The makropulos affair or the makropulos case, or the makropulos secret czech vec makropulos is a threeact opera by the czech composer leos janacek. Following hitlers invasion of 1939, josef capek was sent to a german concentration camp. Of his other plays the makropoulos secret 1923, tr. He was a fervent antifascist and many of his works deal read more about money and other stories. Karel capek, born january 9, 1890, in male svatonovice, austriahungary today czech republic was a writer, playwright, novelist, journalist, childrens author, biographer, essayist, illustrator, photographer and translator.
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