Jaroslav Havlíček (3 February 1896 – 7 April 1943) was a Czech novelist. He was an exponent of
naturalism and
psychological novel
In literature, psychological fiction (also psychological realism) is a narrative genre that emphasizes interior characterization and motivation to explore the spiritual, emotional, and mental lives of its characters. The mode of narration examin ...
in Czech literature.
Life
Jaroslav Havlíček was born in a teacher's family in
Jilemnice
Jilemnice (; ) is a town in Semily District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones, urban monu ...
,
Liberec Region
Liberec Region () is an administrative unit (Czech language, Czech: ''kraj'') of the Czech Republic, located in the northernmost part of its historical region of Bohemia. It is named after its capital Liberec. The region shares international bor ...
. He studied
gymnasium in
Jičín
Jičín (; or ''Gitschin'') is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 16,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument reservatio ...
and then courses of commercial economics. Shortly after he entered
ČVUT
Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) () is one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic with 8 faculties, and is one of the oldest institutes of technology in Central Europe. It is also the oldest non-military technical universi ...
he was drafted to serve in the Austrian army in
Kadaň
Kadaň (; ) is a town in Chomutov District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 18,000 inhabitants. It lies on the banks of the Ohře river. Kadaň is a tourist centre with highlights being the Franciscan Monastery in ...
from where he soon went to front (
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
,
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
). After World War I he finished his studies and became an official. He married Marie Krausová, daughter to a Jilemnice soapmaker, in 1921. He is father to Zbyněk Havlíček.
Work
His novels are usually situated to a provincial town with clear signs of Jilemnice at the turn of the 20th century.
Notable works
* ''"Petrolejové lampy" (Kerosene Lamps)'': Initially titled "Vyprahlé touhy" (Dead Longings) in 1935, this novel is considered Havlíček's masterpiece. It portrays the life of a woman trapped in a challenging marriage, highlighting the societal pressures of the time.
* ''"Neviditelný"'' (The Invisible): A psychological novel that delves into the mind of its protagonist, examining themes of obsession and mental instability.
* ''"Helimadoe"'': This work focuses on the lives of five sisters, offering a deep exploration of family dynamics and individual aspirations.
References
External links
https://search.mlp.cz/cz/osoba/polacek-karel/19695/#/ak_od=key-eq:19695-amp:navigation-eq:%2Bngeneric4%3A%5E%22ek%22%24n%24&ak_o=key-eq:19695 Several works by Jaroslav Havlíček available on the website of the] Municipa
Library in Prague(in Czech)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Havlicek, Jaroslav
Czech novelists
Czech male novelists
1896 births
1943 deaths
Czech Technical University in Prague alumni
20th-century Czech novelists
Psychological fiction writers
20th-century Czech male writers
People from Jilemnice