November Literary Birthdays

KAREL HYNEK MACHA
Czech poet, Nov. 16, 1810 - Nov. 5, 1836

Macha was born in Prague at Mala Strana. Tragical death of his girlfriend Marinka Stichova deeply influenced his works. During his studies of law on prague's university he also became involved in theatre, where he met Eleonora Sonkova, with whom he had a son out of wedlock. Two days befored he was supposed to be married to Somkova, just a few weeks after he had begun working as a legal assistant, Mácha died after a short period of illness. The exact cause of his death is unknown, but both spotted fever and bloody flux had been suspected.

His lyrical epic poem Máj (May), published in 1836 shortly before his death, was judged by his contemporaries as immoral and as a threat to society. The work was rejected by publishers, and was published by a vanity press at Macha's own expense, not long before his early death. Macha's reputation improved after his death and Máj is now regarded as the classic work of Czech Romanticism.

His work available in english translation:
Máj (May) (1836)

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