An Introduction to Twentieth-Century Czech Fiction: Comedies of Defiance

ìA wonderful introduction to twentieth-century Czech literature will undoubtedly become required reading in any course on Czech or Central and East European literature.î Slavic and East European Journal.ìCompetent, important, useful. Students will love it. Afficionados of Czech literature even more.î Arnoöt Lustig. ìAmong the many qualities of Robert Porter's book is the fact that it is able to address readers who have little knowledge of Czech literature× It is also attractive reading which could well motivate English-speaking lovers of literature to become better and more deeply acquainted with Czech fiction.î Slavic Review. ìOne cannot praise enough Porterís method of representing Czech fiction of the twentieth century by the in-depth study of a few, but well-chosen, prose writers. Clear, competent and useful.î Modern Language Review ìThe volume is thoughtfully put together so as to be accessible to the non-specialist and language learner alike.î World Literature Today This book is a lucid and balanced appraisal of some of the best Czech fiction of the twentieth century. The Introduction sets out some of the chief features of Czech literature, notably its preoccupations with lyricism, civic-mindedness, and comedy. There follow chapters on Capek, Haöek, Hrabal, äkvoreck?, Pavel, KlÃ?ma, and a final chapter on Hodrov·, 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.