Karel Čapek

Andrew G. Christensen (Boston University)

Ed. by Clinton John Machann, Texas A&M University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.8.1: Czech and Slovak Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Charles Sabatos (Yeditepe University)

Dates

Born 9 Jan 1890
Died 25 Dec 1938
Activity 1910-1938

Places

Born in Czech Republic
Active in Czech Republic

Activities

Primary

Novelist
Playwright / Dramatist

Resources

Čapek's Works

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Karel Čapek was a prolific writer in nearly every genre and one of the most well known figures from inter-war Czechoslovakia. He is best known today for coining the word

robot

in his dystopian play

R.U.R.

and for his satirical novel

War with the Newts

. As both of these works contain elements of science fiction, Čapek is often assigned to this genre. However, despite his friendship with H. G. Wells, his influence on writers such as Isaac Asimov and Kurt Vonnegut, and the science fiction elements present in much of his satirical work, it would be inaccurate to categorize Čapek as a science fiction writer. As well as being a life-long journalist, he wrote plays, poetry, children’s stories, fairy tales, detective fiction, travel writing, essays, and even a humor book about gardening (his…

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3262 words

Citation: Christensen, Andrew G.. "Karel Čapek". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 November 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=728, accessed 21 November 2024.]