Karel Havlíček Borovský (;
Borová, today ''Havlíčkova Borová;'' 31 October 1821 – 29 July 1856) was a
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
*Czech, ...
writer, poet, critic, politician, journalist, and publisher.
Early life and education
He lived and studied at the
Gymnasium in
Německý Brod (today Havlíčkův Brod is named after Borovský), and his house on the main square is today the Havlíček Museum. In 1838 he moved to Prague to study
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
at
Charles University
)
, image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg
, image_size = 200px
, established =
, type = Public, Ancient
, budget = 8.9 billion CZK
, rector = Milena Králíčková
, faculty = 4,057
, administrative_staff = 4,026
, students = 51,438
, undergr ...
and, influenced by the revolutionary atmosphere before the
Revolutions of 1848
The Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Springtime of the Peoples or the Springtime of Nations, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe starting in 1848. It remains the most widespread revolutionary wave in Europea ...
, decided on the objective of becoming a patriotic writer. He devoted himself to studying Czech and literature. After graduating he began studying
theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
because he thought the best way to serve the nation would be as a priest. He was expelled after one year for "showing too little indication for spiritual ministry".
Career
After failing to find a teacher's job in
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
, he left for
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
to work as a tutor in a Russian teacher's family: with a recommendation by
Pavel Josef Šafařík. He became a
Russophile
Russophilia (literally love of Russia or Russians) is admiration and fondness of Russia (including the era of the Soviet Union and/or the Russian Empire), History of Russia, Russian history and Russian culture. The antonym is Anti-Russian se ...
and a
Pan-Slav
Pan-Slavism, a movement which crystallized in the mid-19th century, is the political ideology concerned with the advancement of integrity and unity for the Slavic people. Its main impact occurred in the Balkans, where non-Slavic empires had rule ...
, but after recognizing the true reality of the Russian society he took the pessimistic view that "Pan-Slavism is a great, attractive but feckless idea". His memories of the Russian stay were published first in magazines and then as a book ''Obrazy z Rus'' (''Pictures from Russia'').
He returned to Bohemia in 1844, aged 24 and used his writing skills to criticize the fashion of embracing anything written in the recently reborn
Czech language
Czech (; Czech ), historically also Bohemian (; ''lingua Bohemica'' in Latin), is a West Slavic language of the Czech–Slovak group, written in Latin script. Spoken by over 10 million people, it serves as the official language of the Czech Re ...
. He specifically aimed at a novel by
Josef Kajetán Tyl
Josef Kajetán Tyl (4 February 180811 July 1856; ) was a significant Czech dramatist, writer, and actor. He was a notable figure in the Czech National Revival movement and is best known as the author of the current national anthem of the Czech Re ...
. In 1846 Havlíček attained a position as editor of the ''Pražské noviny'' newspaper with the help of
František Palacký
František Palacký (; June 17, 1798 – May 26, 1876) was a Czech historian and politician, the most influential person of the Czech National Revival, called "Father of the Nation".
Life
František Palacký was born on June 17, 1798 at Hodslavi ...
.
In April 1848 he changed the name of the newspaper to ''Národní noviny'' (''National News'') and it became one of the first newspapers of the Revolutionary-era Czech
liberals, and one of the most influential publications of 1848–1849. ''Národní noviny'' became popular especially for his sharp-tongued
epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. The word is derived from the Greek "inscription" from "to write on, to inscribe", and the literary device has been employed for over two mille ...
s and its wit. Havlíček was concerned with the preparations of the
Slavic Congress
Slavic, Slav or Slavonic may refer to:
Peoples
* Slavic peoples, an ethno-linguistic group living in Europe and Asia
** East Slavic peoples, eastern group of Slavic peoples
** South Slavic peoples, southern group of Slavic peoples
** West Slavi ...
in Prague. In July 1848 he was elected as a member of the
Austrian Empire Constituent Assembly in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
and later in
Kroměříž
Kroměříž (; german: Kremsier) is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. It is known for the Kroměříž Castle with castle gardens, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town centre with the c ...
. He eventually relinquished his seat to focus on journalism.
Havlíček was a "liberal nationalist" politically, but refused to allow a "party line" to inform his opinions. Often, he would criticize those that agreed with him as much as those that disagreed. He excoriated revolutionaries for their radicalism, but also advocated ideas like universal
suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...
—a concept altogether too radical for most of his fellow liberals. He was a pragmatist, and had little patience for those that spent their time romanticizing the Czech nationality without helping it achieve political or cultural independence. He used much of the space in his newspapers to educate the people on important issues—stressing areas like economics, which were sorely neglected by other nationalist writers.
The Bohemian revolution was defeated in March 1849 with the dissolution of the Kroměříž assembly, but Havlíček continued to criticize the new regime. He was brought to court for his criticism (there was no freedom of the press in the Habsburg's territory) but was found not guilty by a
sympathetic jury
Jury nullification (US/UK), jury equity (UK), or a perverse verdict (UK) occurs when the jury in a criminal trial gives a not guilty verdict despite a defendant having clearly broken the law. The jury's reasons may include the belief that the ...
. ''Národní noviny'' had to cease publication in January 1850, but Havlíček did not end his activities. In May 1850 he began publishing the magazine ''Slovan'' in
Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora (; medieval Czech: ''Hory Kutné''; german: Kuttenberg) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 20,000 inhabitants. The centre of Kutná Hora, including the Sedlec Abbey and its ossuary, was designa ...
. The magazine was a target of
censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...
from the start. It had to stop publication in August 1851, and Havlíček stood again at the court to answer on charges of dissent. Again, he was found not guilty by a sympathetic jury of Czech commoners.
Havlíček translated and introduced some satirical and critical authors into the Czech language culture including
Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol; uk, link=no, Мико́ла Васи́льович Го́голь, translit=Mykola Vasyliovych Hohol; (russian: Яновский; uk, Яновський, translit=Yanovskyi) ( – ) was a Russian novelist, ...
(1842) and
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his ...
(1851).
In the night of December 16, 1851, he was arrested by the police and forced into exile in
Brixen
Brixen (, ; it, Bressanone ; lld, Porsenù or ) is a town in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano.
Geography
First mentioned in 901, Brixen is the third largest city and oldest town in the province, and the artistic and ...
, Austria (present-day
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
). He was depressed from the exile, but continued writing and wrote some of his best work: ''Tyrolské elegie'' (Tirol Laments), ''Křest svatého Vladimíra'' (Baptism of
St. Vladimir) and ''Král Lávra'' (King Lavra, based on the legend of
Labraid Loingsech
Labraid Loingsech ( en, the exile, mariner), also known as Labraid Lorc, son of Ailill Áine, son of Lóegaire Lorc, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He was considered the ancestor of the Lai ...
).
When he returned from Brixen in 1855, he learned that his wife had died a few days earlier. Most of his former friends, afraid of the
Bach system, stood aloof from him. Only a few publicly declared support for him.
In 1856, Havlíček died of tuberculosis, aged 35.
Božena Němcová
Božena Němcová () (4 February 1820 in Vienna – 21 January 1862 in Prague) was a Czech writer of the final phase of the ''Czech National Revival'' movement.
Her image is featured on the 500 CZK denomination of the Česká koruna.
Biograph ...
put a
crown of thorns
According to the New Testament, a woven crown of thorns ( or grc, ἀκάνθινος στέφανος, akanthinos stephanos, label=none) was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to his crucifixion. It was one of the instru ...
on his head in the coffin. His funeral was attended by about 5,000 Czechs.
Memorials
![Karel Havlíček Borovský statue](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Karel_Havl%C3%AD%C4%8Dek_Borovsk%C3%BD_statue.jpg)
In 1911, a
monument was raised to Havlíček in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
by Czech residents of the city in
Douglass Park
Douglass Park is a part of the Chicago Park District on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1869 and initially named South Park,Graf, John, ''Chicago's Parks'' Arcadia Publishing, 2000, p. 11., . its are in the North Lawndale ...
. The bronze statue by Joseph Strachovsky was cast by V. Mašek in Prague and shows Havlicek in a revolutionary pose, dressed in a full military uniform and a draped cape with his outstretched arm motioning the viewer to join him. The statue was moved to Solidarity Drive on today's
Museum Campus
Museum Campus is a park in Chicago that sits alongside Lake Michigan in Grant Park and encompasses five of the city's most notable attractions: the Adler Planetarium, America's first planetarium; the Shedd Aquarium; the Field Museum of Natural ...
in the vicinity of the
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium is a public museum in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics. It was founded in 1930 by local businessman Max Adler. Located on the northeastern tip of Northerly Island on Lake Michigan in the city, t ...
in 1981.
In the year 1918 was new Rifle Regiment of the 3rd division of Czechoslovak legions in Russia named "regiment of Karel Havlíček Borovský"
In 1925 a
biographical film
A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...
was released.
In 1945, the 20
Czechoslovak koruna
The Czechoslovak koruna (in Czech and Slovak: ''Koruna československá'', at times ''Koruna česko-slovenská''; ''koruna'' means ''crown'') was the currency of Czechoslovakia from 10 April 1919 to 14 March 1939, and from 1 November 1945 to 7 F ...
banknote bore Havlíček's portrait.
![Czech Bronze Medal Havel Borovský 150th Anniversary](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Czech_Bronze_Medal_Havel_Borovsk%C3%BD_150th_Anniversary.jpg)
See also
*
Statue of Karel Havlíček Borovský, Prague
References
Further reading
* Reinfeld, Barbara. "Karel Havlíček (1821–1856): A National Liberation Leader of the Czech Renaissance." East European monographs no. 98, New York:
Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by Jennifer Crewe (2014–present) and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fiel ...
, 1982.
*
Masaryk
Masaryk is a Czech surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Alice Masaryk (1879–1966), Czech sociologist and one of the founding members of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, the daughter of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
* Charlotte Garrigue Mas ...
T.G. ''Karel Havlíček'', Praha 1896.
* Chalupný E. ''Havlíček – prostředí, osobnost, dílo'', Praha 1929.
* Procházka V. ''Karel Havlíček Borovský'', Praha 1961.
* Nejtek V. M. ''Karel Havlíček Borovský'', Praha 1979.
External links
Czech Who is who
{{DEFAULTSORT:Havlicek, Karel
1821 births
1856 deaths
People from Havlíčkův Brod District
People from the Kingdom of Bohemia
Czech politicians
Members of the Imperial Diet (Austria)
Czech journalists
Czech satirists
19th-century Czech poets
Czech male poets
19th-century journalists
Male journalists
19th-century male writers
Participants of the Slavic Congress in Prague 1848
19th-century deaths from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis deaths in the Czech Republic
Burials at Olšany Cemetery