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Karel Čapek (1890-1938) was an outstanding Czech prose writer, playwright, translator, public figure, and philosopher, whose name stands alongside such literary giants as Anatole France, Romain Rolland, Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wells, and Thomas Mann.
During his lifetime, he received broad recognition both in Czechoslovakia and beyond: he was a nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1936, the founder and first chairman of the Czechoslovak PEN Club, a member of the League of Nations Committee on Literature and Art, and was nominated for the position of president of the International PEN Club (he declined the post due to illness). Several awards are named after him, such as the Karel Čapek Award, which is given every two years by the Czech PEN Club for literary work that contributes to the strengthening or maintenance of democratic and humanitarian values in society. The word "robot," invented by him, has become an international term for a mechanical human.
Čapek created his works in a variety of genres, often mixing them. The plot was always the most important aspect for him. The collection of selected works of the Czech classic presents three aspects of his creativity: the science fiction novel "War with the Salamanders" - without exaggeration, the best fantastic work of Čapek, warning about the dangers posed to humanity by wars, nationalism, and irresponsible attitudes towards the planet's ecology; the anti-war play "Mother," which tells of the tragic conflict between the social, heroic aspect and the personal, intimate world of a person; and the humorous story "The Court Case" - a brilliant example of the absurdity of our world.
All these works are still relevant. They raise pressing issues that are topical even today, and Čapek does not attempt to moralize but merely wants to awaken a conscience in people.