Vilém Mrštík (; 14 May 1863 in
Jimramov
Jimramov () is a market town in Žďár nad Sázavou District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,200 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monume ...
– 2 March 1912 in
Diváky) was a Czech writer and dramatist.
Career
He is known for his novel ''Santa Lucia'' (1893). With his brother,
Alois
Alois (Latinized ''Aloysius'') is an Old Occitan form of the name Louis. Modern variants include ''Aloïs'' ( French), ''Aloys'' ( German), ''Alois'' (Czech), '' Alojz'' ( Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian), '' Alojzy'' ( Polish), '' Aloísio'' ( Por ...
(1861–1925) he also wrote the drama ''
Maryša'' (1894). This play, set in rural
Moravia
Moravia ( ; ) is a historical region in the eastern Czech Republic, roughly encompassing its territory within the Danube River's drainage basin. It is one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early ...
, explored gender roles and tradition in a small village. In contrast to the more positive renderings of rural life by the writers of the
National Revival
National revival or national awakening is a period of ethnic self-consciousness that often precedes a political movement for national liberation but that can take place at a time when independence is politically unrealistic. In the history of Euro ...
, the brothers attempted a more impartial view of life in the countryside.
He is also famous for having fought against the mass destruction of historic buildings carried out as part of
urban renewal
Urban renewal (sometimes called urban regeneration in the United Kingdom and urban redevelopment in the United States) is a program of land redevelopment often used to address real or perceived urban decay. Urban renewal involves the clearing ...
plans for parts of
Prague
Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
by publishing two influential essays: Manifest to the Czech People (1896), and ''Bestia triumphans'' in 1897.
Works
* ''Paní Urbanová'' (Mrs Urbanová) 1889, drama
* ''Santa Lucia'' 1893, novel
* ''Obrázky'' (Pictures) 1894, anthology
* ''
Maryša'' 1895, drama, written with his brother, Alois Mrštík
* ''Pohádka máje'' (A May Tale) 1897, novel
* ''Anežka'' (Agnes) 1912, drama
References
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120612013916/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~tayl0010/lit_to_1918.htm
* http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mrstik,+Vilem
External links
*
*
1863 births
1912 deaths
People from Jimramov
Czech male novelists
19th-century Czech novelists
19th-century Czech dramatists and playwrights
Czech male dramatists and playwrights
1912 suicides
Suicides in Austria-Hungary
Dramatists and playwrights from Austria-Hungary
Novelists from Austria-Hungary
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