Introduction to Twentieth-Century Czech Fiction - Comedies of Defiance (Hardcover)

This is an appraisal of some of the best Czech fiction of the 20th century. After a brief introduction - which sets out some of the chief features of Czech literature, notably its preoccupations with lyricism, civic-mindedness, and comedy - there are chapters on Hasek, Hrabal, Skorecky, Pavel, Klima and a final chapter on Hodrova, Viewegh and Topol. The book spans the entire century, from the newly created Czechoslovakia after 1918, through the years of Nazi occupation and Communist rule, the Prague Spring and finally on to the Velvet Revolution of 1989.;This text provides an overview of the genre as well as offering close readings and original interpretations. The Czech originals of quotations are supplied. Points of comparison are made with English and Russian literature, and the case is made that Czech fiction is frequently able to overcome the parochialism which one might associate with a small nation and an inconvienient language.